*Can't decide if it's gapeworm or upper respiratory cold*

[Carchick]

So I have a beautiful barred rock hen who is about 7 years old who for the past almost 2 weeks has symptoms that I can't figure out what it might be.

She has

*breathing with her mouth slightly open, sometimes neck stretched other times not
* can hear rattling/ heavy breathing when I pick her up to give her VetRx
* don't hear anything when she's down on the ground
* sneezes once in awhile
* shakes her head sometimes
* no nasal or eye discharge
* her comb looks fine
* she still has a good appetite and likes her treats
* is active

I have been giving her VetRx for a week now at night and also in water. I add basil and other herbs to their feed. I've looked down her throat and didn't see anything.

Any guesses?

 

[AmyJane725]

My guess would be the gapeworms since she doesn't have any sort of discharge from her eyes or nose. Is it hot where you are? How long has it been going on? Maybe if it's early in a respiratory infection she wouldn't have discharge yet. Has it been just a week, or was it happening for a while before you started the VetRx as well?

I don't know that the worms would cause rattling when breathing though. Any input on this experts?

@Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @casportpony @Texas Kiki

 

[Carchick]

I'm not sure if I should see it in fecal matter, but I don't see anything. I guess I'll buy some Tylan powder and try it.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

beautiful barred rock hen who is about 7 years old

breathing with her mouth slightly open, sometimes neck stretched other times not
* can hear rattling/ heavy breathing when I pick her up to give her VetRx
* don't hear anything when she's down on the ground
* sneezes once in awhile
* shakes her head sometimes
* no nasal or eye discharge
* her comb looks fine
* she still has a good appetite and likes her treats
* is active

When is the last time she laid an egg?

When you pick her up, how does her bottom feel - does she feel like she is "full". Think how it feels if you pick up a child with a full diaper.

If you were to support her bottom (abdomen below the vent between the legs) very well when you pick her up, does the rattle/heavy breathing improve?

Photos of her?

 

[Carchick]

I wish I could say when the last time was that she laid an egg, but all 6 hens lay in the same box. On average, there's about 4 eggs a day. When I pick her up from the bottom, she still is opening up her mouth to breathe and I do hear the breathing, but I don't hear rattling. She doesn't feel full at the bottom if she feels like she normally does. Here are a couple of pictures of her.. .. In the picture of the 2 barred rocks, she is the one in the back.

 

[Carchick]

Here's a better view of the second picture. .

 

[Carchick]

I forgot to hit reply to your post instead of creating a separate one, but the pictures are up above, thanks

When is the last time she laid an egg?

When you pick her up, how does her bottom feel - does she feel like she is "full". Think how it feels if you pick up a child with a full diaper.

If you were to support her bottom (abdomen below the vent between the legs) very well when you pick her up, does the rattle/heavy breathing improve?

Photos of her?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I wish I could say when the last time was that she laid an egg, but all 6 hens lay in the same box. On average, there's about 4 eggs a day. When I pick her up from the bottom, she still is opening up her mouth to breathe and I do hear the breathing, but I don't hear rattling. She doesn't feel full at the bottom if she feels like she normally does. Here are a couple of pictures of her.. .. In the picture of the 2 barred rocks, she is the one in the back.View attachment 1810566

O.k. so she's having trouble breathing regardless if she's being held or not. I think I had misunderstood.
Have you looked inside her beak to make sure there's no obstruction or canker?
Her crop is empty completely in the morning?
Have you introduced any new chickens within the last 30 days?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to brainstorm. Her age is a biggy for me. So she is still laying, maybe yes?

She is beautiful by the way I just love Barred Rocks.

Hard to know here, gapeworm is fairly rare. You report she's still eating/drinking, loving her treats (don't get between a Rock Girl and her treats!) With Gapeworm, they will continuously gape, stretch the neck, cough, not eat/drink, etc.

What does your gut tell you? I can be wrong and I am lots of times - my inclination with her age and symptoms would be reproductive problems.

 

[Carchick]

Thank you for taking the time to help me .Yes, her crop is empty every morning, they are still laying eggs, even though they are about 7 or 8 years old. My husband and I looked in her beak yesterday and saw nothing. During the day there are times in which she will not open her beak to breathe but most of the time she does. She doesn't strain her neck to breathe, nor do I hear it. I know I love my barred rocks, they are certainly characters and so smart. No new birds have been introduced into the flock since about a year ago. They are in a pen and coop right next door to them. They have separate areas since they don't get along with each other.

*editing to add. . I just looked up about reproductive problems such as Cancer, inflammation in the overt act and such, but two of the symptoms would be depressed and not eating...problems she doesn't have right now. I am trying to order some Tylan powder online and waiting for my vet's approval so I can treat it as a cold. I am hoping it is something simple like that. she is such a great girl!

O.k. so she's having trouble breathing regardless if she's being held or not. I think I had misunderstood.
Have you looked inside her beak to make sure there's no obstruction or canker?
Her crop is empty completely in the morning?
Have you introduced any new chickens within the last 30 days?

Sorry for all the questions, I'm just trying to brainstorm. Her age is a biggy for me. So she is still laying, maybe yes?

She is beautiful by the way I just love Barred Rocks.

Hard to know here, gapeworm is fairly rare. You report she's still eating/drinking, loving her treats (don't get between a Rock Girl and her treats!) With Gapeworm, they will continuously gape, stretch the neck, cough, not eat/drink, etc.

What does your gut tell you? I can be wrong and I am lots of times - my inclination with her age and symptoms would be reproductive problems.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

If you can't get the Tylan soluble powder to go in the water, you can use injectable Tylan50 and give it orally. You can find Injectable Tylan50 at stores like Tractor Supply, dosage is 0.25ml per pound of weight given orally 3 times a day for 5 days.

I hope you find a solution for your girl.