Does anyone else have chickens that get seasonal colds as much as my flock? When we get a cooling off period, my chickens get a breathing sound as like a straw in a near empty soda glass...I treat them with Terramycin, which seems to work, but when the weather warms up in the spring, they get the same symptoms. Am I using the right med? Are there any preventative measures to follow?

I don't pretend to be a chicken expert but I raised parrots for years and tetracycline is what we used most on our birds, BUT you have to use it right.I used to treat yearly for a disease that parrots are prone to and the vet told me to treat for 30 days not the ten that the package says if you buy it from a pet store.
What would happen is that the symtons would all disappear as the virus would go into a recession type thing BUT it would still be in their system allowing it to build back up over time AND become immune to the antibiotic. This might be the cause for your yearly colds. I don't know enough about chickens to be sure, but it is my first instinct. Hope this helps you sort your problem out.

My guess is your birds have chronic respiratory disease
They usually get it from the stress of the changing weather or their molt. I use gallimycin or aureomycin
I switch periodically so they don't develop an immunity to the drug. Hope I helped

Kelly

You can't just say "guess is your birds have chronic respiratory disease" sounds like the next bit is ...and they're just gonna die!

I keep warrens with Minorcans, Andoulsions, Black Roack and a few Light Sussex. The Warrens are the only ones who seem to suffer the snotty nose and rattling throat syndrome and I wondered if they were just too messed up genetically that they produce eggs but at the loss of their health.

Are any of these cold symptoms combined with a swollen face (areound the eye) or do I have to stand by and watch my flock die?

Does anyone actually read this?
Just in case... My flock got better and I won't use antibiotic again - they're organic now!

my light colored rhode island red is suffering from some of the same symptoms after im moved her frome my home to a small farm for a week or two. now when i brought her home for a surprise she was sluggish ancted strange had a mucus coming from her nostrils, water all in her eyes, and and gargling growl soung unlike her duvish coo coo. im new and not a serious breeder. shes just my pet and only one. what should i do.