Somethings wrong need help.

[Slicker chicker]

Yesterday I noticed my lavender Orpington was sneezing a lot and tipping her head back and opening her beak like she’s trying to gasp for air but she’s not making a bunch of noise doing it … She has no gunk coming out of her nose or any around her eyes, but her comb and waddle has turned gray. I was firmly petting her down over her crop area, and she would make almost a moan of relief sound. That’s the best word I could think of. Sometimes when she’s in a sneezing fit, she will go down on her hocks. She has been eating, but has been distancing herself from the flock a lot. Any ideas on what could be going on?

 

[Eggcessive]

I’ve done 7 days now and she’s still doing it. It’s worse… my vets here don’t do chickens. Any other ideas? I’ve been talking to my husband about putting her down because I don’t know what else to do.

I am sorry that she is not better. Has she been able to drink water or eat anything? Has she been up walking around? Any coughing or head shaking? If you do put her down, I would try to do a home necropsy, and cut open her trachea to look for Y-shaped gapeworms, which are red in color. I’m not sure if your state vet could do a necropsy, but that would be a way to get a diagnosis.
Edited to say, yes your state vet can be contacted early am for a necropsy. The body should be kept cold in a cooler on ice, but not frozen. Here is the contact info:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Eggcessive]

Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you see any mucus or gunk inside her beak and throat? Is she drinking fluids? Don’t press on her crop, since that can push food and fluids back up into airway and throat. Have you wormed her recently? What is your general location? I would consider worming her with Valbazen 1/2 ml orally, or getting SafeGuard horse paste or liquid goat wormer, and giving her 1.25 ml orally for 5 straight days in case of gapeworm. She may have a respiratory disease, and any dust, old or poor air circulation can cause more problems.

 

[Sir Clucks-A-Lot]

Hey, seems like your girl may have a serious respitory ailment like gapeworm. I've personally never experienced it myself but heard that affected chickens will tilt their head back and gasp for air and may be sneezing, and coughing (comb and waddles will turn purple from lack of oxygen).

Here's a few articles that talk a bit about gapeworm and other ailments that may cause your chicken to have those symptoms
https://www.dineachook.com.au/blog/what-are-the-symptoms-of-chicken-gapeworm/

https://www.aussiechooksupplies.com...ogs/gapeworm-does-my-gasping-chicken-have-it/

Here's a chicken suffering from gapeworm

 

[HeritageFan]

I haven’t faced this one before-

@Eggcessive
@azygous
@Wyorp Rock
@R2elk

Any other ideas for her?

 

[Slicker chicker]

I am sorry that she is not better. Has she been able to drink water or eat anything? Has she been up walking around? Any coughing or head shaking? If you do put her down, I would try to do a home necropsy, and cut open her trachea to look for Y-shaped gapeworms, which are red in color. I’m not sure if your state vet could do a necropsy, but that would be a way to get a diagnosis.
Edited to say, yes your state vet can be contacted early am for a necropsy. The body should be kept cold in a cooler on ice, but not frozen. Here is the contact info:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

She came over while I was feeding mealworms, and she laid an egg.she is not shaking her head but is making a weird caw sound and is tipping her head back opening her beak… her sneezing seems to have subsided

 

[Kiki]

I'm sorry you lost her.
Pushing on a crop and cause fluid and or food to go down the wrong pipe and in to the lungs which will make them do exactly what she was doing...having trouble breathing..and kill them slowly.

I too highly recommend you get a necropsy performed by your state lab If for any reason you can't, you may actually learn something valuable if you open her up yourself.

 

[Slicker chicker]

I'm sorry you lost her.
Pushing on a crop and cause fluid and or food to go down the wrong pipe and in to the lungs which will make them do exactly what she was doing...having trouble breathing..and kill them slowly.

I too highly recommend you get a necropsy performed by your state lab If for any reason you can't, you may actually learn something valuable if you open her up yourself.

Thank you… she died while I was at work an hubby disposed of her. I have a very sharp eye on my girls now. Everyone seems atm. I never knew how heartbreaking this could be. I’ve always raised dogs and they are much hardier! I am very thankful for all you very knowledgeable ladies and gentlemen for giving advice and encouragement. Thank you!

 

[Slicker chicker]

Sorry for your loss. I would try to do a home necropsy if possible to look for gapeworms in her trachea.

I was at work when she died. Hubby disposed of her, as he knows I hate to see them dead. I’m a hunter, but a softer when it comes to my critters. Thank you for all your knowledge and help.