One of my hens, a 2yr leghorn, seems to have some sort of a cold or respiratory infection. She was sneezing and seems to have trouble breathing, especially after I chased her around the coop to catch her. She has free range with about 15 other chickens and 15 bourbon reds. I brought home 15 chicks about 3 weeks ago but other than that hasn't been exposed to any other poultry and the chicks are not with her although they do share space in a large shed but in separate coops. I confined her away from all the birds and am giving her tetracyline in her
water, she seems fairly perky and is eating and drinking well, still getting excited about a handful of scratch grain. So - does anyone have
experience with this type of thing? What are the chances she will get better, and even if she does get better will there be a chance she is a carrier for something that could spread to my other birds?
Should I cut my losses and butcher her? Are all upper respiratory type symptoms in chickens caused by viruses? We raise our poultry for meat and eggs and I can't stand the thought of this spreading.