20-week old pullet sneezing/gaping

[gumpsgirl]

Oh Wynette, I am so sorry. I am completely heart broken for you. I wish I could make things better and don't even know the right words to say. You tried so hard with that girl and this just doesn't seem fair. Unfortunately, life rarely does seem fair when things like this happen. I guess you can look back and find comfort in knowing that you did everything possible to help Splash. She was very lucky to have you as her chicken mommy. Please know that you are in my thoughts.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Wynnette...I"m so, so sorry. You have gone beyond what most folks would do in caring for Splash. Please know that she died knowing how much you cared for her and with you right there. Don't be hard on yourself...you've been through a lot. RIP Splash...you were well loved and will be missed.

 

[keljonma]

Wynette, so sorry to hear about Splash. She had a good caretaker. I know its hard to lose one, especially when you've been trying so hard to make her well. But you did the best and sometimes I think its best to remember these things are ultimately in God's hands.

 

[HenSpa]

Quote:
The neck thing is classic sign of Newcastle Disease, Wynette. I'm so sorry. I am having the same exact start-up symptoms as you began with in my flock of 6, who I've had for 2 months (they came to me sick, unbeknown to me). Today, my Sussex, who is the worst in the flock and was the original carrier, cannot even make it up the ladder in coop. Her left wing seems to be paralyzed (hanging down; another Newcastle sign). She's lost many feather on her head/neck and they all are a little mucusy, clear, around nose/mouth. I saw another pullet, my fave, stretching her neck and gaping. Another Newcastle sign.

I have gone round and round with this, thinking is was one thing after another...but the hanging wing clinched it for me. Newcastle. Nothing you can do, but let it play out. At least now I finally know what it is, thanks to reading some of these posts and putting it together.

 

[beautifulbirds]

Hi there (knew to this); I have a 6yr old Wyandotte who I thought had Gapeworm but now I am thinking upper respiratory infection. Whatever else you do also get some fresh wheatgrass juice and an eye dropper and give her three squirts down her throat, twice a day for three days. This will keep her nutrition up whilst you figure out what else is wrong. A purple crop can also mean liver disease??? More later, let me know how you get on. Cheers BB.

 

[Wynette]

henspa, this bird definitely did not have Newcastle. The reason her head/neck were flopped onto her back is that she aspirated some of the formula I'd just fed, and she basically had died. I immediately put her head down & shook her, and the aspirated, watery formula came out, she took a big breath, and recovered. I'm sure it was completely a timing issue in this case. She had not had the floppy head/neck until after she aspirated. Thanks for the feedback, though- it's all certainly appreciated. Wish I could have saved her...she was a beautiful bird.

I'm very sorry you're going through what you've got. It's just heardbreaking to see your birds get sick. I hope yours pull through for you! Keep your chin up - I think they are often stronger than we give them credit for.

 

[dlhunicorn]

Quote:
The neck thing is classic sign of Newcastle Disease, Wynette. I'm so sorry. I am having the same exact start-up symptoms as you began with in my flock of 6, who I've had for 2 months (they came to me sick, unbeknown to me). Today, my Sussex, who is the worst in the flock and was the original carrier, cannot even make it up the ladder in coop. Her left wing seems to be paralyzed (hanging down; another Newcastle sign). She's lost many feather on her head/neck and they all are a little mucusy, clear, around nose/mouth. I saw another pullet, my fave, stretching her neck and gaping. Another Newcastle sign.

I have gone round and round with this, thinking is was one thing after another...but the hanging wing clinched it for me. Newcastle. Nothing you can do, but let it play out. At least now I finally know what it is, thanks to reading some of these posts and putting it together.

I disagree in principal based on how you have reached your "diagnosis"... if I am correct, Newcastle is a reportable disease (is suspected you should alert your county extension office and ask for the state vet to come and do necropsy> ONLY with a necropsy can the cause of death be confirmed (and in some cases even with a necropsy the cause can only be surmised)
These symptoms occur with many things and finding the bird with its head on back is quite common at point of death.

 

[HenSpa]

I'm assuming that we're all in the same boat on chicken illnesses. Not many vets treat for, not many of us have access to people who will run tests. So we have to do our best to use our eyes, seek fellow advice, and research as best as possible. I'm no chicken vet (are any of us? a reminder I put out there because of the way you used quotes around the word "diagnosis" with certain implications), but I've gone back & forth on this for quite a while. A tentative diagnosis is the best we can all hope for most of the time. Newcastle is the only one that fits my symptoms. And as far as reportable, there is a milder form of Newcastle in the U.S. (not the bad one in European countries). Read below:

"Newcastle disease is a contagious viral infection causing a respiratory nervous disorder in several species of fowl including chickens and turkeys. Different types or strains of the virus (varying in their ability to cause nervous disorder, visceral lesions and death) have been recognized.

The most severe strain is called viscerotropic velogenic Newcastle disease (VVND) and is kept from birds in the U.S. by enforcement of strict quarantines at our national borders. It is often referred to as "Exotic Newcastle Disease" and infection of susceptible fowl with this form usually causes high mortality. Due to the reduced chance that poultry in this country will become infected with this disease form, it will not be discussed.

A milder form of the disease is called "mesogenic" Newcastle disease and is the most serious strain found in the U.S. This is the form that is referred to as Newcastle disease in this discussion.

Newcastle disease is highly contagious. All birds in a flock usually become infected within three to four days. The virus can be transmitted by contaminated equipment, shoes, clothing and free-flying birds. During the active respiratory stage, it can be transmitted through the air. The virus is not thought to travel any great distance by this method. Recovered birds are not considered carriers and the virus usually does not live longer than thirty days on the premises.

Signs of Newcastle disease are not greatly different from those of other respiratory diseases. The signs most frequently observed are nasal discharge, excessive mucous in the trachea, cloudy air sacs, casts or plugs in the air passages of the lungs and cloudiness in the cornea of the eye.

The disease in young chickens begins with difficult breathing, gasping and sneezing. This phase continues for ten to fourteen days and may be followed by nervous symptoms. If nervous disorders develop, they may consist of paralysis of one or both wings and legs or a twisting of the head and neck. The head often is drawn over the back or down between the legs. Mortality may vary from none to total loss of the flock.

In adult chickens, respiratory symptoms predominate. Only rarely do nervous disorders develop. If the flock is laying, egg production usually drops rapidly. When this occurs, it takes four weeks or longer for the flock to return to the former production rate. During the outbreak, small, soft-shelled, off-colored and irregular-shaped eggs are produced. Mortality in adult birds is usually low but may be fairly high from some virus strains.

The flock history, signs of a respiratory nervous disorder and other typical lesions often may be sufficient to allow a tentative diagnosis. Usually, however, the disease cannot be differentiated from infectious bronchitis and some of the other respiratory infections, except by laboratory methods.

There is no treatment for Newcastle disease. The disease does not always respect even the best management programs, but good "biosecurity" practices will help reduce the possibility of exposure to Newcastle disease virus."

 

[dlhunicorn]

It is exactly because noone here (to my knowledge) are vets (and I have stated ad nauseum on this forum that any and all advice here is simply a guess... even a vet will not "diagnose" without testing to confirm >particularly with those symptoms which can occur in several conditions)
Anytime you have multiple deaths and serious symptoms you don't need a vet and a wheelbarrow full of money...you simply need (and should!) pick up your phone and call the county extension office (explain the seriousness and you fear it might be a reportable disease) and they will send the state vet or give you the number you need to call.

 

[BantamMom13720]

DEFINITELY get the VetRx - poultry remedy. I just had an 4 week old leghorn in similar shape, gave her three drops twice a day- and now she's fine! Couldn't believe how fast it worked for her.

You can get it at any farm store, and it works!

Good luck.
Robin