Breathing disturbances in 3 young hens.

[Chicken_Mammy]

I’ve got an isolated small coop of 3 chickens that are “honking” and sound like they’re breathing through a snorkel. What should I do?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Do you have nutridrench? Can you give it to them in their water (five days straight) then take a break. Also if you have peppermint or eucalyptus oil you can put it on there bedding at night ( like Vicks). Also put vetricyn on their combs and wattles. This all will boost their immune system to help them fight if the virus. Have they been wormed recently? What are you feeding them?

You should also dose the water of your healthy hens with nutridrench.

 

[Chicken_Mammy]

These chickens have never been medicated. They seem to eat pretty well, however. I have a larger coop of 9 that have no symptoms. These 3 have never joined the larger flock as they were younger. Also, I got them from a farm as month old pullets. I separated them to make sure they weren’t bringing in any cooties, and they slowly started exhibiting more and more symptoms. Someone on another platform suggested VetRX. How do you feel about it? Is this “cold” contagious? Mycoplasmosis?

Do you have nutridrench? Can you give it to them in their water (five days straight) then take a break. Also if you have peppermint or eucalyptus oil you can put it on there bedding at night ( like Vicks). Also put vetricyn on their combs and wattles. This all will boost their immune system to help them fight if the virus. Have they been wormed recently? What are you feeding them?

You should also dose the water of your healthy hens with nutridrench

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I’ve got an isolated small coop of 3 chickens that are “honking” and sound like they’re breathing through a snorkel. What should I do?

Photos? Coop, run, the chickens?

Video of the honking? Upload video to YouTube and provide a link.

You mention small isolated coop - how much ventilation is in the coop?
How long have you had these birds?
Any mold, mildew in the coop/run or feed?

Any bubbles in the eyes, facial swelling, mucous, etc.?

VetRx is a just a remedy, it's not cure, it could be used to give a bit of respiratory relief, similar to vicks vapor rub.

If you find that you are dealing with a respiratory disease instead of something environmental, then treating symptoms with an antibiotic can help. Do be aware there is no cure for respiratory disease and birds will remain carriers, so it's likely to spread to your existing flock.

 

[dawg53]

If it's hot where you live and they are staying in a smaller coop, ammonia fumes due to soiled bedding and/or improper ventilation can be the cause. You can also put a fan inside the coop blowing air out a vent, indirect fresh airflow will come in through the other vents. You dont want direct air flow blowing on your birds.
If it's a respiratory disease, cull them. Respiratory diseases easily spread to healthy birds in some manner; via each other, on your clothing, hands, shoes, etc...

 

[SmiYa0126]

It may be a cold, which will need to run it's course. You can support them with extra nutrition so they heal up fast.

 

[dawg53]

It may be a cold, which will need to run it's course. You can support them with extra nutrition so they heal up fast.

Chickens dont get colds, they get a specific disease.

 

[SmiYa0126]

Thanks for the clarification, it's some kind of virus, that's why I said cold...

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for the clarification, it's some kind of virus, that's why I said cold...

I'm certain it's not a virus, the symptoms arnt there, neither for a bacterial disease such as MG nor Coryza. I suspect it's an environmental issue depending how the OP responds.

Here's a link for you to read to help guide you regarding poultry diseases, especially symptoms. Alot of the symptoms are similar with the respiratory diseases, but each one has a different "marker symptom" that is different. That's the key in identifying what respiratory disease a bird might have. However, it's also possible for a bird to have two respiratory diseases (or more) going on at the same time, such as MG and Coryza. IB and ILT as examples.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PS044

 

[SmiYa0126]

I'm certain it's not a virus, the symptoms arnt there, neither for a bacterial disease such as MG nor Coryza. I suspect it's an environmental issue depending how the OP responds.

Here's a link for you to read to help guide you regarding poultry diseases, especially symptoms. Alot of the symptoms are similar with the respiratory diseases, but each one has a different "marker symptom" that is different. That's the key in identifying what respiratory disease a bird might have. However, it's also possible for a bird to have two respiratory diseases (or more) going on at the same time, such as MG and Coryza. IB and ILT as examples.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/PS044

I had three hens that were making a honking sound, it then progressed to rattling in their lungs and a cough. They didn't have any mucus or bubbling, that's why I recommended what I did. I see a lot of responses that mention MG, is it common? Is IB infectious bronchitis?