[FiB]

My 8 new girls have settled in well, are free ranging, feathered up beautifully..... but a few are coughing .  The ones that are seem totally well in ever other respect - no eye probs or anything.  Do chickens get over respiritory infections naturally or should I seek treatment?  They are in a big airy (but not drafty where they roost) shed with 7 x 16 week old 'chicks' (they've been happily co-habiting for about a week now), so I need to take action if this is likely to be serious and contagious.....  Cheers, Fi

[Bramblecot]

One batch of ex-batts I had 2 years ago were particularly poorly and coughing badly.  The vet prescribed Tylan, which is a powder you dissolve in their water.  Cleared up the problem and they went on to be my best layers.

[Beewyched]

Sounds like it may be just a cold (not surprising this weather    ) in which case some Citricidal in their drinking water should sort them in a few days.
If they start developing anything else - snuffly eyes, diarrhoea - it could be Chronic Respitory Disease - which will need anti-bs (ah - just noticed B'cots post - Tylan    ).
Hope they're better soon 

[FiB]

Thanks  .. immediate action and back up sorted!  I was scared there would be a majority 'cull' response. 

[FiB]

So - quick update for completeness!!  One was very off colour this morning - not eating and 'cough' (what I thought was a cough/sneeze, the vet called a snitch!) had developed into her holding her beak open and looking like she was struggling to breath (which she was) - a 'gape'.   Vet advised dispatching for postmortem (as they were ex batt, and therefore vacinated up to the max he said it was unlikely to be any of the common viruses, but suspected a worm burden from free ranging which they were unable to cope with) which he did... and she was chock ablock with gape worm poor thing.   Massive things (over 1cm long) in her airpipe.  Flubinvet on order.  He does not advocate routine prevenative worming though so just said to be on the lookout for symptoms in future and treat.  I'd know gapeworm symptoms anywhere now, so lesson learnt.  And I guess I can say that free ranging actually did cause this.  Makes you think doesnt it.    Poor chicken.

[Beewyched]

Hi Fi 
Thanks for sharing this with us - worms, I would never have thought 
Sad that you had to lose 1 - bless her    but remember you are going to be able to give the rest of the girls the life they deserve 

[Mrs Snoodles]

Flubenvet is ace stuff  it will do the job.