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

[BrookesChooks]

I have just checked her, inside of her mouth and throat and it looks normal (I’m not an expert though), and I could see her windpipe area opening and closing and could not see any obstruction. She is still very weak and not walking around. Her wheezing Is now whistle on the inhale and exhale and seems to be harder to breathe out than in. Could not feel any strange pockets of air or asymmetrical shape in her body, but it is hard to tell.. I fed her some soft food and a big drink of water via syringe, which she swallowed easily. She still hadn’t touched her dish of food.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry

Do you have a feed store or co-op that carries any antibiotics? At this point it may be worth a try to treat her if you can get something.
Respiratory infection is probably the cause of her distress, but just to cover everything, is her crop full/hard or bloated feeling?
Is she pooping? Any chance that she has an egg stuck, any swelling or fluid in the abdomen (between her legs, below the vent)?

 

[ejtrout31]

Probably best to put her down

 

[BrookesChooks]

We just gave her more water, she coughed and spluttered at one point and did a big watery poo, then flapped out of our arms and walked about 10m away before sitting down to rest again. I didn’t check her vent but she did lay an egg yesterday, and her wheeze started about a week ago so I don’t think it could be a stuck egg...

I live remote and there won’t be anywhere to get medication until tomorrow. Should I try make her comfortable and see if she’ll make it until tomorrow morning (16 hours from now), or should I euthanise?

 

[CCUK]

Could it be aspergillus? Has she made any almost crowing noises? If you are going to the vets ask them to check for it. It needs an antifungal medication. Oxine ah is also good for treatment.

 

[DesertBird]

We just gave her more water, she coughed and spluttered at one point and did a big watery poo, then flapped out of our arms and walked about 10m away before sitting down to rest again. I didn’t check her vent but she did lay an egg yesterday, and her wheeze started about a week ago so I don’t think it could be a stuck egg...

I live remote and there won’t be anywhere to get medication until tomorrow. Should I try make her comfortable and see if she’ll make it until tomorrow morning (16 hours from now), or should I euthanise?

Sorry for the late reply, but I'd give her a chance if she's still moving around and seems to have a strong will to live.

 

[IdyllwildAcres]

I live remote and there won’t be anywhere to get medication until tomorrow. Should I try make her comfortable and see if she’ll make it until tomorrow morning (16 hours from now), or should I euthanise?[/QUOTE]

You are the only one who can make this decision. The questions I would be asking myself are:
Will she likely die anyway and am I just making it harder for her?
Is what's wrong with her curable? (the answer is no with respiratory issues in chickens, sometimes they can be managed but they will be carriers of whatever it is they have and this will come up again.
Is it the right thing to do to use antibiotics to not cure this bird?
Should I be taking medical advice from strangers on the internet however well intentioned?

I know what I would do, I am sorry you are going through this.



Gary

 

[Wyorp Rock]

We just gave her more water, she coughed and spluttered at one point and did a big watery poo, then flapped out of our arms and walked about 10m away before sitting down to rest again. I didn’t check her vent but she did lay an egg yesterday, and her wheeze started about a week ago so I don’t think it could be a stuck egg...

I live remote and there won’t be anywhere to get medication until tomorrow. Should I try make her comfortable and see if she’ll make it until tomorrow morning (16 hours from now), or should I euthanise?

It's hard to know whether to treat her further or put her down. Only you can make that decision. What does your "gut feeling" tell you.

 

[BrookesChooks]

Thank you all for your advice.
I have just woke up and checked her and she is still alive, and her breathing is ok, laboured but not noisy at all so I would say maybe a small improvement. I am going to take her to vet as soon as it opens, and will keep you posted.

I wasn’t aware that respiratory illness becomes a chronic thing with chickens, so thank you I will consider that when speaking to the vet.

 

[DesertBird]

Good luck!