A gasping hen

[Attilla]

This hen is like a pet to me. Last summer the other birds injured her and ever since then she can't walk. The last two days she hasn't eaten much. She constantly closes her eyes and opens her beak as if she's gasping. The gasping thing actually started like two months ago but she was doing it now and then, sometimes after drinking water. The poop looks normal. She started doing it way more regularly now. I can't tell whether she's experiencing problem breathing or the problem is in her throat (please check the videos). It breaks my heart seeing her like that... I can't put into words how much I'm attached to her.

 

[GoosesGeeses]

@azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive

 

[azygous]

Do you hear rattling noises when she breathes? If not, the beak action is more likely due to the stress of not feeling well. Her eyes tell me she is probably very sick.

We can't tell you what's making her sick, and a vet may not be able to either. If she's older than five or six, she may have end stage reproductive cancer. If she's very young and it's been quite hot, she may be suffering from the heat. If she has diarrhea, she could have a bacterial infection in her intestines. If that's what's happening, an antibiotic might help.

If it's spring where you are and she has diarrhea, she might have coccidiosis and you could try a coccidiostat. That would be Corid if you live in the US.

 

[Attilla]

No noises when she breathes. She's 11 months old. No diarrhea.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry about your hen.

It's hard to tell what may be going on with her. Unfortunately, looking at the videos, she seems to be in a state of decline and may not make it. I know this may be hard to accept, but sometimes no matter what we try, often there's an illness or condition that a hen is not able to overcome.

Do the best you can, offer supportive care, keeping her hydrated if possible and check her over for lice/mites.

This hen is like a pet to me. Last summer the other birds injured her and ever since then she can't walk. The last two days she hasn't eaten much. She constantly closes her eyes and opens her beak as if she's gasping. The gasping thing actually started like two months ago but she was doing it now and then, sometimes after drinking water. The poop looks normal. She started doing it way more regularly now. I can't tell whether she's experiencing problem breathing or the problem is in her throat (please check the videos). It breaks my heart seeing her like that... I can't put into words how much I'm attached to her.

 

[azygous]

Let's try giving her some water with electroytes to boost her glucose and see what she does.

Mix one cup warm water with one teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt and baking soda. Dip her beak several times to see if you can get her to drink on her own. If she's too weak to drink, then take an oral syringe and feed it to her like this photo shows.