Bird flu or other respiratory issue?

[Chicalina]

I have a little OEGB pullet with respiratory symptoms: frequent snicking and laboured open beaked breathing when sitting down. She is otherwise well, eating (though not a lot) and drinking, but not laying. Poops are normal. She is nearly a year old and has been laying until recently. She is bright and perky and rather fed up at being on her own, pacing about and wanting to get out. I have isolated her for nearly 6 weeks now from the flock in a hospital cage, treating her with only vitamins and rest. I thought she would either die or get better, but I've seen barely any difference in her the whole time.

I was reading about avian influenza and she doesn't have enough symptoms to be the virulent strain and she is also still very much alive after 6 weeks! No other flock members have any symptoms at all.

Might she have a lesser strain or another respiratory illness?

I did ponder about gapeworm but haven't treated for that yet.

Is there anything else I can do to help her get better and rejoin the flock?

It's like she has an annoying cold that won't go away.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Hello there! have you thought about having a state test done for respiratory illnesses?

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @azygous

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I’m sure some experts will show up to help you.

 

[Chicalina]

I hope so! Need some ideas.

Haven't been to a vet. I'm rather scared of my whole flock being culled if the worst happens and they are all well and I've isolated the sick hen for ages now. There is no risk to any wild birds spreading anything from my flock. Also they've all been in lockdown so it's very unlikely to be bird flu but we do have it in my region of the UK. We also have other mild strains knocking around but I don't want to lose my flock for an over zealous vet.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Looking forward to the experts showing up to help you..... I had a pullet with Respiratory illness. Her symptoms were rattled breathing and sneezing. Not open mouth breathing, and I ruled out gapeworm. I treated with VetRX and dropper of warm Oregano oil down throat. It cleared up in about 4 days. I wonder if she has gapeworm or obstruction. Mine made alot of "noises," that indicated respiratory illness....

 

[Chicalina]

Thanks so much. I've just found VetRX online and ordered some. Not cheap but hopefully worth a try. I will report back.

 

[Bjw]

Looking forward to the experts showing up to help you..... I had a pullet with Respiratory illness. Her symptoms were rattled breathing and sneezing. Not open mouth breathing, and I ruled out gapeworm. I treated with VetRX and dropper of warm Oregano oil down throat. It cleared up in about 4 days. I wonder if she has gapeworm or obstruction. Mine made alot of "noises," that indicated respiratory illness....

Did you drop the VetRx down her throat too? How many drops of each?

 

[SandyRiverChick]

Did you drop the VetRx down her throat too? How many drops of each?

I actually found the thread from 2018 where I treated the pullet in my Avatar. Yes, dropper down throat. It was not very fun I felt so bad doing it, but from the thread I can see that another person told her their chicken didn't make it with respiratory illness and mine certainly did make it! I gave her VetRx for 2 days then started Tylan50 - 4mg twice/day

 

[Chicalina]

I've been giving it to her for a week. A few drips into her beak which she swallows, and some under each wing. She has definitely showed some improvement, but is not cured. She is snicking a lot less, and only seems to be gasping open mouthed when I pick her up. She isn't doing the constant gaping neck stretch movements any more. Her comb is still pale and she walks around with her wings down, so she is still under par. But she is active.

I can't imagine she is still contagious with whatever it is. It must be about 9 weeks or so now. I wondered if being alone was contributing to her feeling poorly, so I tried to put her sister in with her for company. Did not go well. She froze and then sister attacked her. Put a sebright in, nope. These three were hatch mates and a mini flock inside the main flock. But she must have been away so long they think she is a stranger.

Flock is free ranging and plenty of space and obstacles around so I put her out on the grass with them. She just hung out on her own looking pitiful and they chased her away.

She is now in a separate run where the flock can see her through the wire. I'll see how that goes for a week. A broody silkie is in there too on some eggs so they interact twice a day when the broody leaves the nest. Broody is feisty with her but is too heavy and slow to hurt her (she just flies away). I'm hoping that the broody will become her buddy and help her reintegrate into the flock, as she is top dog.

Not sure how I can treat the pale comb and halfway unwellness, unless it is just time. I will persevere with the VetRX for a bit. She is getting exercise now rather than being confined to bedrest