3 week old chick with lump under beak and breath smells cheesy - sometimes struggles to eat drink breathe

[Rachnicko]

I have a 3 week old chick who seems to have a lump in her throat... well somewhere under her beak. It’s not her crop, which is much lower down. And it’s not the bone which runs downward there, as it is also lower down.

Her symptoms started about 4 days ago when she appeared to be struggling to breathe. And then to eat and drink.During the last 4 days, she has been sleeping a lot, so we bring her inside to give her rest and try to get her to eat and drink when she wakes.

The other 2 chicks she is with when she is in the run with her “mum” are very active, so we feel this gives her time to rest if that’s what she needs.

I only noticed the lump in her throat yesterday really. It is a bean sized lump, but not really visible unless you feel it. I have posted some photos as the you can slightly see her throat when she stretches her neck. I think her breath also smells slightly cheesy, but it’s not too bad - you can only smell it when you are close up and she opens her beak. I have tried looking inside her beak down her throat but can’t really see anything, other than a mucus/saliva bubble, but that popped and could only see her tongue and darkness down her throat. And she seems to poop ok. Mostly it is fine (small solid and normal as far as I can tell) but I have seen a couple of small liquidy ones she’s done.

She seems to pick up, so we put her back outside with the others, then she goes off again and wants to sleep.

When she eats, she is eating medicated chick crumb, and also scrambled egg that we make her. We have given her home mode electrolytes and poultry tonic drink. Plus we have tried her with some paracetamol and some metronidazole (as I read that could be used if it is canker).

Anyone any ideas?

I had posted previously when her symptoms first stated here :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ing-to-breathe-shaking.1388965/#post-22809521

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you had canker before in any of your chickens? Canker is a contagious disease carried by pigeons, and it can be spread throughout chickens in a flock by contaminated drinkers. It can cause cheesy lesions in the beak and throat and crop. Can you see anything by looking down into her throat? Wet fowl pox can cause a similar cheesy lesion in the throat, but without the odor.

Do not give chickens acetaminophen, since it is toxic to them. The metronidazole 57 mg per pound can treat canker, and ronidazole for pigeons is another medicine used to treat it. Thyme extract is an herbal that might help. Acidified copper sulfate 1/4 tsp per 4 liters/1 gallon is used in the water as a preventative for 3 days each month to help prevent the spread to other chickens. Clean and disinfecte waterers daily.

 

[Rachnicko]

Thanks for your help - I assume acetaminophen is paracetamol?

No we haven’t had canker before, and only have a small backyard flock (7 birds including chicks). It is just something I had read about, and seemed to match symptoms. The only thing I can’t see any legions at all looking in her beak.

Is there anything else it could be?

I have contacted a local vet a couple of times (although nearly an hour away) who specialise in birds but still not heard back... very disappointed as all I want to do is help her!

 

[bluemtnwmn]

My first thought was sour crop. Here is some info on that:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...ntion-and-treatments-of-crop-disorders.67194/
I have not personally treated this condition but I read a lot of the posts on here so I've seen lots of similar symptoms that were sour crop related. Hopefully this article will point you in the right direction for treatment.

 

[Rachnicko]

Thanks for your help @bluemtnwmn

We ended up taking her to the vet. He said he couldn’t find any issues with respiratory or crop, but found a lesion under her tongue. He said it could be through some kind of trauma and could be infected and causing trouble eating and drinking, plus her fighting infection along with not eating as much causing her to be lethargic. He gave us antibiotics (Denagard Sol 12.5%) that we can put in her water for 5 days.

She started on that a day and a half ago and has really picked up, so we think it is working. It cost £75 for the vet app and treatment but I had a feeling it wasn’t just crop related so I’m glad we got her checked out. He also gave us some working treatment for our small flock, but we haven’t started that yet, as we are just letting the antibiotics take it’s course.