Chicken gasping, low-energy, did not go to roost at dark

[AccidentalChickenLady]

My Rhode Island Red, Ginger, is almost six months old, and for the past few days has been very low-energy. We went away for the weekend (had a family member tend to the birds), and when I came back, I noticed that she looks a little off... She's closing her eyes a lot, looks a bit pale, her feathers are extra puffed out, and when she stands still, she looks like she is gasping (or trying to squawk, but no sound comes out). I also noticed her sneezing a few times during the 10 minutes I spent with the birds this evening. She did not put herself to bed in her coop tonight; I picked her up and put her inside with he really sisters. I'm also attaching a few photos that I took today.

She is still eating (regular MannaPro egg-maker pellets and treats), though she is at the bottom of the pecking order, so she only gets whatever is left of treats. She did come up to the gate this afternoon with her sisters when I brought treats. She has not started laying yet, though her other two flock-mates (a BR and EE from the same local Colorado farmer and hatched within days of Ginger) are both laying regularly. She is drinking (we have a bucket with nipples hanging in the middle of the run), and I have not noticed the other two girls picking on her. She did have a limp about a month ago, but she is walking evenly on both legs now. I just cleaned off the poop boards and don't see any bloody stool.

My primary concern is potential disease, given the fact that I lost another bird (an EE, mentioned here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...ic-after-beak-trimming.1199453/#post-18987926 ) without much explanation just a few weeks ago. Is there some kind of immune-boost I can give Ginger that might help her kick whatever's got her down? I'd just hate to lose another one of my little friends. Any advice (especially at-home/low-cost remedies) are greatly appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

I think that you are probably seeing a respiratory infection, and there are several viruses, bacteria, and fungi that can cause those. Gapeworm is an over diagnosed problem and rare, but chickens with that will not be able to eat and drink, since they are in so much respiratory distress. It is treated with SafeGuard liquid Goat Wormer or Equine paste given for 3-5 straight days at a dosage of 0.25 ml or 1/4 ml per pound of weight. A 5 pound chicken would get 1.25 ml for 3-5 days. You could be dealing with aspergillosis, from mold, or infectious bronchitis, Mg, ILT, or coryza, so of the common respiratory diseases that you could read about here: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Today is the last day of Ginger's medication regimen, and she is doing SO. MUCH. BETTER. She has a solid, consistent appetite, she's pooping regularly, talking whenever I go in to see her, and getting increasingly annoyed with me putting antibiotic drops into her nostrils. (I figure her squawking and trying to flap away when I do so is a good sign, as that's what I'd expect from a fully healthy "normal" chicken who doesn't want to be messed with.) Last night, she was sitting on my knee for a while after her meds, then jumped down and started exploring the guest room, which is the most active I've seen her be since she got sick.
I'm planning to return her to the coop with her sisters this week, as soon as I change out the run flooring for sand. It's also been warmer here in Colorado this week, with temperatures only in the 40s at night, so I'm hopeful that she won't have to work too hard to keep herself warm overnight. I'll keep an eye on her and make sure she puts herself to bed in the coop, but I'm optimistic that she's going to go right back to her regular chicken-y self once I return her to the flock.
Thank you again to everyone who weighed in here, especially @ChattyChickens4Life! I'm so grateful for this community of fellow feathered-friend enthusiasts. <3

You are so welcome!!! I am so glad she is doing better! Yay!

-Chatty

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Possibly gape worm? Have you checked for that?

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

You can't check for it because the worms are in their throat. Let me find you an article. Hold on.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

https://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/gapeworm/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/best-treatment-for-gapeworm.820569/

Best wishes!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Thank you @ChattyChickens4Life! Am I correct in assuming I need to go to a vet to get that treatment? Or would it just be wisest to take her to a vet anyway? I was trying to avoid large vet bills, but might this be an issue that could affect all of them? The other two birds are very lively and appear healthy.

Going to a vet would most likely be the best option. They can confirm gape worm or uncover a possibly hidden, more serious illness. And then they can treat for whatever us wrong. I would suggest bringing all your birds to be safe. Best wishes! Keep me updated!

 

[AccidentalChickenLady]

Just got back from a long (and expensive) trip to the vet with Ginger. The vet also suspects she has gape worm, though a preliminary fecal analysis was inconclusive. Because I couldn't justify $550 in additional tests, the vet sent me home with an oral de-wormer (Panacur) to give Ginger for three days, and an opthamalic antibiotic (Gentamicin) to administer via drops into her nostrils for a week. Ginger was interactive and responsive at the vet, and aside from being a bit skinny, the vet didn't see any additional signs of trauma or injury.
Since the temperature has started dipping below freezing at night here in Colorado, I've moved Ginger into her own "condo" inside the house, where I can also administer her medication and make sure she's getting plenty of food and water, as she is usually at the bottom of the pecking order. The vet suggested I keep her inside for at least the week that she's on antibiotics, and to monitor the rest of my flock for any signs of distress. She did say that the fact that Ginger is "talking," awake and alert, and interested in eating and drinking is a good sign that we may have caught whatever it was early enough to address it, and that she may be strong enough to beat it. Thank you to all of the BYC-ers who offered suggestions and encouraged me to take her to the vet. I'm glad I did, even if we don't have definitive answers about what's causing her illness (the $500 test would have provided those, as well as a definitive course of treatment, but cost was really prohibitive for this underemployed journalist) and my wallet is lighter for the trip.
As a preventative measure, I'm going to be changing out the bedding we use in their run — thus far we've used grass clippings from our yard (since we know it's not treated with anything other than hose water), but the vet suggested we switch to sand instead, as a more hygienic option that is less appealing to parasites and other nasties.

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

Just got back from a long (and expensive) trip to the vet with Ginger. The vet also suspects she has gape worm, though a preliminary fecal analysis was inconclusive. Because I couldn't justify $550 in additional tests, the vet sent me home with an oral de-wormer (Panacur) to give Ginger for three days, and an opthamalic antibiotic (Gentamicin) to administer via drops into her nostrils for a week. Ginger was interactive and responsive at the vet, and aside from being a bit skinny, the vet didn't see any additional signs of trauma or injury.
Since the temperature has started dipping below freezing at night here in Colorado, I've moved Ginger into her own "condo" inside the house, where I can also administer her medication and make sure she's getting plenty of food and water, as she is usually at the bottom of the pecking order. The vet suggested I keep her inside for at least the week that she's on antibiotics, and to monitor the rest of my flock for any signs of distress. She did say that the fact that Ginger is "talking," awake and alert, and interested in eating and drinking is a good sign that we may have caught whatever it was early enough to address it, and that she may be strong enough to beat it. Thank you to all of the BYC-ers who offered suggestions and encouraged me to take her to the vet. I'm glad I did, even if we don't have definitive answers about what's causing her illness (the $500 test would have provided those, as well as a definitive course of treatment, but cost was really prohibitive for this underemployed journalist) and my wallet is lighter for the trip.
As a preventative measure, I'm going to be changing out the bedding we use in their run — thus far we've used grass clippings from our yard (since we know it's not treated with anything other than hose water), but the vet suggested we switch to sand instead, as a more hygienic option that is less appealing to parasites and other nasties.

I use sand in my coop. Best choice ever! It's so easy to clean! Kitty litter scooper? Check! Also, when you need to fully replace the sand in the run, just wash it dry it, and reuse it! Woohoo! Best wishes and good luck!

 

[ChattyChickens4Life]

And glad Ginger is better! Hoping for a seamless recovery!