Breathing difficulties

[Wyorp Rock]

Good photos.

That fluid filled "bubble" looks similar to what's found in this https://www.slideshare.net/VETIDEA/infectious-bronchitis-in-laying-hens-chickens
Maybe the start of a fluid filled cyst?

The ovum look to be developed and to me, she had some "eggs" getting ready to be laid soon. (yolks developing/getting ready to be captured when the time comes)

If you feel like you want to cut into the masses, then do it. It may be interesting to see what they look like inside.

 

[speckledhen]

However, I didn’t see any swelling whatsoever around the nares or in her mouth.

You wouldn't, necessarily. It would be inside until they grew larger and protruded, if they were there. Just something to consider. Gotta run, may not be back to BYC today..

 

[Eggcessive]

It would be interesting to send some of the pictures to your state poultry lab pathologist, to see if they have any ideas. If you keep the parts or the body refrigerated, you also could take it in or send it for a necropsy by the state vet. Here are some links about necropsies, and you might just ask to speak to a pathologist or someone about looking at pictures:
http://agi.alabama.gov/divisions/veterinary-diagnostic-labs/diagnostic-laboratories

http://agi.alabama.gov/divisions/veterinary-diagnostic-labs

 

[TwoCrows]

@Mimi' 13 I am so sorry about your girl. It's tough to see them suffer and you did the right thing.

I have had two hens breathe or in my case, what I deemed "honk" as they breathed. (both of them sisters and one is still alive, she is 9 years old). In both cases they had/have heart disease (enlarged heart diagnosed by a vet) but not so bad that they can't breathe nor does it kill them fast. My present hen has been "honking" on and off for 3 years. She is happy, healthy, runs around like a young chicken, she has no runny noses, bubbly eyes, just occasionally she breathes with a low honk. Her sister had issues with her air sacs, and eventually they collapsed completely. (no doubt my 9 year old hen is suffering with the same air sac issue) I am not sure why, if it was cancer (a vet once told me chickens can be prone to air sac diseases) or some other genetic issue. I am only relating this to you and others in case your hen may have a link to this. As in humans, once they contract cancer somewhere in the body, it can head right to the lungs and air sacs. Depending on the type of cancer and how aggressive it is will determine how fast it kills the bird.

Again, I am so sorry.

 

[Mimi13]

Good photos.

That fluid filled "bubble" looks similar to what's found in this https://www.slideshare.net/VETIDEA/infectious-bronchitis-in-laying-hens-chickens
Maybe the start of a fluid filled cyst?

The ovum look to be developed and to me, she had some "eggs" getting ready to be laid soon. (yolks developing/getting ready to be captured when the time comes)

If you feel like you want to cut into the masses, then do it. It may be interesting to see what they look like inside.

Oh dear, @Wyorp Rock, a couple of those pictures DO resemble what I saw in Blanca, which leads me to this question. Is my flock doomed if a bird looks to have had IB? Do I not need to expose any more chicks to it, like the 12 in my house that I’m desperately wanting to move to the outside brooder?

I will almost bet money, that I don’t have, on the fact that several more of my birds have this. I guess as long as they remain asymptomatic I shouldn’t worry.

I do want to cut into those masses and will this evening after my grandson has gone home. [He’s almost 3 and I don’t want to completely freak him out. However, he does get right in there with me when I’ve got my finger run up inside feeling for an egg shell.] It’s times like this I wish I had my old college microscope. I have no clue what I’d be looking at, but I want to know why the texture difference in them. I will post pics of that too.

 

[Mimi13]

It would be interesting to send some of the pictures to your state poultry lab pathologist, to see if they have any ideas. If you keep the parts or the body refrigerated, you also could take it in or send it for a necropsy by the state vet. Here are some links about necropsies, and you might just ask to speak to a pathologist or someone about looking at pictures:
http://agi.alabama.gov/divisions/veterinary-diagnostic-labs/diagnostic-laboratories

http://agi.alabama.gov/divisions/veterinary-diagnostic-labs

That is interesting that a pathologist might could look at her liver. I still have it, but I did dispose of her body. I will give these sites a looksey here in a bit.

 

[Mimi13]

@Mimi' 13 I am so sorry about your girl. It's tough to see them suffer and you did the right thing.

I have had two hens breathe or in my case, what I deemed "honk" as they breathed. (both of them sisters and one is still alive, she is 9 years old). In both cases they had/have heart disease (enlarged heart diagnosed by a vet) but not so bad that they can't breathe nor does it kill them fast. My present hen has been "honking" on and off for 3 years. She is happy, healthy, runs around like a young chicken, she has no runny noses, bubbly eyes, just occasionally she breathes with a low honk. Her sister had issues with her air sacs, and eventually they collapsed completely. (no doubt my 9 year old hen is suffering with the same air sac issue) I am not sure why, if it was cancer (a vet once told me chickens can be prone to air sac diseases) or some other genetic issue. I am only relating this to you and others in case your hen may have a link to this. As in humans, once they contract cancer somewhere in the body, it can head right to the lungs and air sacs. Depending on the type of cancer and how aggressive it is will determine how fast it kills the bird.

Again, I am so sorry.

This is very interesting about the air sacs and unfortunately I do not understand anything about the air sacs. As I mentioned in the beginning, she sounded like she had had something punctured. She very well could have had an air sac problem, but she had received no trauma of any kind (to rupture one/some) if indeed that would have had to occur. I know I’m talking in circles now because I have no clue what I’m talking about. I do not even know where the air sacs are located. I just know from reading to handle the chickens carefully when I pick them up.

I knew last night there was no need in me trying to get nourishment in her. She had gone down hill fairly quickly. I took several videos of her throughout the day and in each one she seemed worse. Last night, she was standing, but her wings were dropped and her eyes were partially closing. I just couldn’t let her continue.

Thank you.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh dear, @Wyorp Rock, a couple of those pictures DO resemble what I saw in Blanca, which leads me to this question. Is my flock doomed if a bird looks to have had IB? Do I not need to expose any more chicks to it, like the 12 in my house that I’m desperately wanting to move to the outside brooder?

I will almost bet money, that I don’t have, on the fact that several more of my birds have this. I guess as long as they remain asymptomatic I shouldn’t worry.

I do want to cut into those masses and will this evening after my grandson has gone home. [He’s almost 3 and I don’t want to completely freak him out. However, he does get right in there with me when I’ve got my finger run up inside feeling for an egg shell.] It’s times like this I wish I had my old college microscope. I have no clue what I’d be looking at, but I want to know why the texture difference in them. I will post pics of that too.

Well, Blanca was what a year old? IB can make birds carriers for up to a year
from what I understand. You don't mention that you ever noticed any symptoms, but depending on the strain, it can be mild or birds may never show symptoms. Frustrating I know! The cause of that "bubble" may not be IB, it could be something else, it just reminded me of the photos I had seen in that link.

I think I would put the youngsters outside and see how it goes.

 

[TwoCrows]

This is very interesting about the air sacs and unfortunately I do not understand anything about the air sacs. As I mentioned in the beginning, she sounded like she had had something punctured. She very well could have had an air sac problem, but she had received no trauma of any kind (to rupture one/some) if indeed that would have had to occur. I know I’m talking in circles now because I have no clue what I’m talking about. I do not even know where the air sacs are located. I just know from reading to handle the chickens carefully when I pick them up.

I knew last night there was no need in me trying to get nourishment in her. She had gone down hill fairly quickly. I took several videos of her throughout the day and in each one she seemed worse. Last night, she was standing, but her wings were dropped and her eyes were partially closing. I just couldn’t let her continue.

Thank you.

My first bird lived about one year after developing this rough breathing condition, although I am sure her heart was enlarge for years before her death. As time went by, her breathing became quite labored, sounding like your girl in the end. (Her sister at 9 years breathes heavy much of the time, and when she gets winded she honks as well.) But the first indication is you can actually hear the air sacs fluttering. The air sacs are at the base of the neck over the back. You shouldn't be able to hear anything on a healthy bird. I could hear the sacs as the birds sat on my lap. It then progressed to a clicking sound you could hear at the beak. This one also had an enlarged heart, so when she sat down she was extremely out of breath. (A really good sign they have an enlarged heart, standing relieves pressure on the heart and they can breathe better.) The breathing became like your girls breathing and of course the end was very near. My 9 year old has fluttering air sacs, occasional clicking at her beak but can still breathe well enough she is in no need to be put down. I am watching her and should she start to get too uncomfortable, I will have her put down.

All this being said, its hard to say with your girl. It's entirely possible she did have some form of heart disease along with other issues, any one of them could have been the cause of her demise.

Also I want to add, they can be born with enlarged hearts, I had a BR that showed signs of enlarged heart at 6 months. She lived to be 3 years, I had her put down because she couldn't breathe while roosting.)

 

[Mimi13]

All of this that I have read and seen the past two days is amazing and unfortunately, through sickness, I have learned so much. There is still so much to learn, but it seems most learning comes from experience with sick birds. Such is life!

Thank you all for this excellent advice. It truly means a lot.

We had horse drama at the house today, which hindered me from devoting the time I needed to inspect Blanca’s liver further. Hopefully, all fingers crossed, I will be able to do this tomorrow.

This has certainly been an eventful few days. Sunday found me processing a 7 mo BO cockerel. Ugh! He was truly a pecker head. Then, after cleaning his lot out, I moved 5 of the 7 twelve week old cockerels that I hatched out of the main coop and into this lot. This lot kind of is known as the “freezer holding lot.” That’s the way the ball bounces around here. Monday began with me tending to a sick chicken and eventually euthanizing her and today was spent setting up the outside brooder and moving the 12 3 week old chicks to it. Fun times?!? I’ll say!

Thanks again y’all!