Bird Wheezing, Sounds Like Water in Lungs

[TwoChicksChix]

Hi everyone,

I have an older bird, probably around 6 or 7, who has started to wheeze a bit when breathing. It sounds like a popping thing too occasionally, like he’s sort of gargling water. He seems to be the only one of my outside birds who’s acting like this.

It started a few days ago, I live in South Florida so it had been raining a lot occasionally. My birds just went through a dose of Corrid to treat coccidiosis. He takes longer to get out of the coop than usual, but otherwise seems to act normal.

This also seems to be happening with one or two of my chicks inside, as well as my friends chicken who is about 5 months old.

Could it be water in their lungs? Or something else? I’m not sure how both inside and outside chickens could have it.

Thank you

 

[Wyorp Rock]

wheeze a bit when breathing. It sounds like a popping thing too occasionally, like he’s sort of gargling water.

seems to be happening with one or two of my chicks inside, as well as my friends chicken who is about 5 months old.

Do you have photos of him and the chicks?
Have you visited your friend's chickens or she yours?
Where did the chicks come from?

It sounds like you may be dealing with respiratory disease. Mycoplasma, Infectious Bronchitis, ILT and Infectious Coryza are fairly common diseases in chickens. These disease can be easily spread from bird to bird, on your clothes/shoes, dust, dander, feathers, equipment, in poop, etc. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Getting testing is to find out what you are dealing with is always a good idea.

Some people use an antibiotic to see if that helps relieve symptoms. Birds that have respiratory illness would be considered carriers of the disease for life depending on what it is. Tylan50 can be found at most feed stores. Dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. I would not treat unless birds are clearly showing symptoms of illness.

 

[ShannonR]

I agree, respiratory issue