Breathing problems

[IsleofWightGirls]

One of my hybrid girls developed a wheeze and kept sneezing, she was taken to my parents house away from the rest of my girls in case she was infectious. This was roughly a month ago. The next day she was quite poorly, stopped laying so I took her to the vets. They gave antibiotics and basically said as she had gone so light she wasn't going to make it but try with the antibiotics and see. The antibiotics were given for 2 weeks, she seemed a little better but the wheezing and sneezing was the same. A lady at a local farm said it may be gape worm, so Muriel (the chicken in question lol) and the whole flock were wormed.

Still no improvement to Muriel. She is eating, running after my mum like a complete looney and laying every single day! what could it be? We were told by the vet and the lady we purchased her off that she wasn't contagious cos of the time she had been poorly and cos she had had antibiotics etc. We had an ex battery that was being bullied so we thought she could go keep Muriel company, after 3 days she was so poorly she had to be put down

don't know what to do. Muriel is the cutest, friendliest, best layer we've had but I can't risk putting her back.

Any ideas on what it could be to start with and is there any hope for her returning to the flock? should I try and find her a home where she will be the only chicken?

thanks for any advice given

 

[robin416]

This is a bit disjointed and confusing. You say there is no improvement yet she's chasing after your Mom and laying? Those two things don't add up. Can you be a little more clear on what you mean?

 

[IsleofWightGirls]

Sorry. There is no improvement in her breathing or the fact she is sneezing alot, but she is very active and laying, this is why I am so confused.

 

[robin416]

Has anyone checked her throat? You're looking for any abnormal growths, something caught, or the possibility of gape worm.

Did your vet say the bird sounded congested?

Have they ever been wormed? If not might be a good idea.

 

[IsleofWightGirls]

Yes as staed in first post she has been wormed. No improvemnt. The vet checked her throat for growths and he said nothing could be felt. He didn't really say she was congested

 

[robin416]

Can you tell me what they were wormed with? Wormers can be pretty specific on what they'll remove and what they won't. If your vet chose the wormer then it probably covered more than round worms.

One other thing I'd give a shot at is removing her from the house. Putting her back with the flock might be a problem without being watchful because they might not remember her. But there might be something in the house that is irritating and causing the wheezing.

If your vet doesn't think its in her lungs then it seems like whatever it is has to be in the air way itself. Or irritants that she is breathing in.

Something has to be going right for her if she's laying again.

 

[IsleofWightGirls]

Thank Robin, they were wormed with Flubenvet. She is in my mum's grden, having free range then sleeping in a shed at night. Whatever it is that is causing it was the same in our garden and my mum' garden.

Hey eggs are perfect dark brown eggs, and she looks healthy, just sounds like he smokes far too many a day lol it' difficult getting to the bottom of it.

 

[robin416]

Unfortunately we do not have Flubenvet available to us here, yet. I've read about it and it sounds interesting.

She might have a defect that causes the extra noise but it certainly sounds like she's doing quite well. Her extreme weight loss might have been from the others bullying her away from the food.

 

[IsleofWightGirls]

Thank you for all your help Robin. If you wanted flubenvet I could always post some over to you

I have found a friend who has given Muriel a permanent home away from other chickens so she can't infect anyone else. She is going to be one hell of a pampered chicken!