Wheezing Hen

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keenkath

keenkath

Hatching
Sep 26, 2015
9
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9
South Burlington, Vermont
My girls have been laying consistently for over a year and a half in a backyard coop with run. Today I went out to do a deep clean before winter (Vermont). One of my girls is wheezing. Read about respiratory illness or worms. Do I isolate her? Any ideas of where to put her? Recommendations on treatment? If antibiotics, do I place in water for all to drink and do I dispose of eggs for the duration?
Distressed in VT
 
Have you added any new birds recently? I would isolate her and medicate her only if she is still wheezing tomorrow. But I would look inside her beak and throat for any unusual yellowish patches or a foreign body that is partially blocking her airway. Does she have any nasal or eye drainage, swelling around an eye, sneezing or cough? Look at your coop ventilation to see if it is adequate, prevent dust in feed and bedding, look for wet conditions or mold, and don't overheat the coop. Tylan 50 injectable can be given orally or by injection, and oxytetracycline or Gallimycin are common to use in the water. Those will not treat a virus or fungal infection, but can treat symptoms of a bacterial or mycoplasma infection.
 
Haven't added any new chickens. She's still wheezing today when she breathes in. No nose/eye drainage or swelling. No sneezing or coughing. Don't see anything obstructing her throat. Ventilation in coop is good. I have turned the heat lamp on at night as its getting colder here. It's dropping into the low 40's.
 
Happy to update! I didn't give antibiotics, used VetRX as directed, swabbed her throat and glad to report she is not wheezing! Don't know what it was, but all is well in the coop! Hank you for great info and so much love for chickens!
 
Eggcessive said:
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Have you added any new birds recently? I would isolate her and medicate her only if she is still wheezing tomorrow. But I would look inside her beak and throat for any unusual yellowish patches or a foreign body that is partially blocking her airway. Does she have any nasal or eye drainage, swelling around an eye, sneezing or cough? Look at your coop ventilation to see if it is adequate, prevent dust in feed and bedding, look for wet conditions or mold, and don't overheat the coop. Tylan 50 injectable can be given orally or by injection, and oxytetracycline or Gallimycin are common to use in the water. Those will not treat a virus or fungal infection, but can treat symptoms of a bacterial or
 
Thank you for replying to my post. I stuck a q-tip down her throat to test for worms while I think I may have dislodged whatever was in her throat. Have you ever heard of such a thing?
She wheezed for about 2 days, no sneezes, no goopy eyes and 2 days later, she wasn't wheezing anymore. I'm just nervous that I should look for other signs. Their laying has decreased, but we were away on vacation and I think the hens missed their normal routine and snacks. Any ideas?
 
She could have had something partially blocking her airway, even mucus or a piece of food. Gapeworm cannot be diagnosed with swabbing the throat. In order to see them, you have to cut open the trachea or airway after death to actually see the red worms. Gapeworm can be treated with SafeGuard liquid goat wormer 1 ml given for 3 straight days orally. Laying can decrease this time of year with annual molting or from shorter days. I'm glad that she seems back to normal except for the laying. My hens are all taking a break this month.
 

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