Chicken struggling to breath, close to death. No other symptoms! Help!

[BrookesChooks]

French marans hen 2 years old, has been a bit wheezy for about a week but no other symptoms so have been giving oily bread, treating like there’s something stuck in her throat. Today found her sitting down and seriously struggling to breath, she looks exhausted ... still no other symptoms. No vets open today (Sunday).

Have isolated her with food and water but she won’t eat or drink.

Any advice?? 90% sure it’s a respiratory infection.

 

[The Phantom]

If it’s respiratory I would treat with Baytril. 1/4ml per 5 pounds injection.

 

[silkiemother]

is her nostrils crusty?temp normal?do you have any pics you can show us?is something obstructing her airway?

 

[DesertBird]

Have you checked in her mouth?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

French marans hen 2 years old, has been a bit wheezy for about a week but no other symptoms so have been giving oily bread, treating like there’s something stuck in her throat. Today found her sitting down and seriously struggling to breath, she looks exhausted ... still no other symptoms. No vets open today (Sunday).

Have isolated her with food and water but she won’t eat or drink.

Any advice?? 90% sure it’s a respiratory infection.

Do you have a video of her?

I would check inside her beak for any obstruction, lesions, plaques or canker.
Feel her abdomen - is it swollen or fluid filled? (when is the last time she laid an egg)

If you feel it's a respiratory infection, you can try Tylan50 to see if that helps. Respiratory disease, molds, ammonia and other conditions can cause respiratory distress.
Since she is struggling - you may need to give her injections instead of giving the medication orally. I would give at least .30ml per pound 2-3times a day for 5 days.

***edit - I just now notice you are in Australia - what antibiotic do you have on hand?

If she is in a very bad way, it may be kinder to put her out of her misery. Refrigerate the body and send it for testing, this way know what you are dealing with.

 

[BrookesChooks]

Her nose, comb and eyes etc all look normal. I don’t have any medication here to give her, and won’t have access to a vet until tomorrow. I tried looking in her mouth but she put up a good fight and I wasn’t able (she’s a feisty one). I couldn’t feel any bulges in her neck.. I will get the kids to bed for a nap and have another go at checking her mouth. She has been laying well. I will try post a video of her breathing this morning

 

[BrookesChooks]

The video won’t upload coz it’s too large she struggles on the inward breath, and it sounds dry, with no whistling. You can see her body fill with air and she looks very exhausted..

 

[Wyorp Rock]

For video, you have to upload to youtube or a similar platform, then provide us a link.
The BYC video upload does not work.

Her body filling with air - explain that a bit more - does she have any type of air filled areas on the body that might indicate a ruptured air sac?

Gently feel of her, chickens have multiple air sacs - if she has one that is ruptured, you may be able to feel it - like an air bubble under the skin

 

[BrookesChooks]

Do you have a video of her?

I would check inside her beak for any obstruction, lesions, plaques or canker.
Feel her abdomen - is it swollen or fluid filled? (when is the last time she laid an egg)

If you feel it's a respiratory infection, you can try Tylan50 to see if that helps. Respiratory disease, molds, ammonia and other conditions can cause respiratory distress.
Since she is struggling - you may need to give her injections instead of giving the medication orally. I would give at least .30ml per pound 2-3times a day for 5 days.

***edit - I just now notice you are in Australia - what antibiotic do you have on hand?

If she is in a very bad way, it may be kinder to put her out of her misery. Refrigerate the body and send it for testing, this way know what you are dealing with.

Yes, we are in Australia but I don’t have any antibiotics

For video, you have to upload to youtube or a similar platform, then provide us a link.
The BYC video upload does not work.

Her body filling with air - explain that a bit more - does she have any type of air filled areas on the body that might indicate a ruptured air sac?

Gently feel of her, chickens have multiple air sacs - if she has one that is ruptured, you may be able to feel it - like an air bubble under the skin

thank you so much, I will feel her over and report back. You can see her wings and chest enlarge/flare and then relax which each breath, like big slow breaths rather than small shallow ones.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes, we are in Australia but I don’t have any antibiotics

thank you so much, I will feel her over and report back. You can see her wings and chest enlarge/flare and then relax which each breath, like big slow breaths rather than small shallow ones.

Likely she is in respiratory distress due to illness, but it's worth checking her to make sure there isn't an air sac rupture causing it.