Chickens wheezing but not acting sick

[Photokitty]

Let me start by saying I inherited a flock of 41 chickens and 5 ducks yesterday from friends that are moving. They were free ranging but the coop they lived in was a bit loaded with muck. Out of the 41 chickens only 2 have this wheezing noise when they breathe out.

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.) They look like a very heavy white chicken with yellow legs. One is a roo one is a hen. ETA chickens are 2 years old
2) What is the behavior, exactly. When they breathe out it's a raspy wheeze. No other discharge or anything else. They run around, the roo crows, and they eat and drink.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms? At least a day since I inherited them yesterday.
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms? Just the two out of the 41 (I have 57 in total)
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma. No but they were moved yesterday but were wheezing before the move.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation. Their old coop was a bit rank, pretty deep in hardened muck. They were free range otherwise with all the other birds. Now they are in a run with a coop.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all. Eating crumbles normally. Now they have crumbles, corn, oyster shell and wild bird seed. They were drinking from just a kiddie pool and now have a different kiddie pool, pan waterer, and two tubs of water. I have seen both drink and eat.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc. poop is unknown but no poop around where they slept looks abnormal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far? Nothing since I got them yesterday after a long day of catching them all.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet? Would like to treat myself because we don't have a regular vet.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use. They were in muck and now they are on dirt, but it's cleaner then what they were on and they have access to a coop with pine shavings. They just didn't go in it last night, along with a few of their compadres.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

the coop they lived in was a bit loaded with muck

Their old coop was a bit rank, pretty deep in hardened muck.

They were in muck and now they are on dirt,

Do you have any photos

Wheezing can be from a number of things - since you mention the conditions they were living in, it's possible that could be the cause - ammonia toxicity/poor air quality or even possibly molds from wet housing. Stress from moving can also exacerbate symptoms. If they are eating/drinking and active - at this point it's probably best to just keep watch on them - if symptoms worsen or they become lethargic, have mucous, eye discharge, facial swelling or other symptoms of respiratory illness, then consider separating them so you can treat them. A flock that size, even if they have a contagious respiratory illness, everyone would be considered exposed.

Do you have an existing flock of chickens? Any concerns that this new flock could bring illness/disease or parasites that could be spread to your chickens?

Check them all over very well for lice/mites - if you find any, then treat with a permethrin based poultry spray or dust.

 

[Photokitty]

I do have some that were in the coop they are now all in. There were just 9 of the 16 because I have multiple coops during the summer to eat down areas around the house. The wheezing seems to not be as loud and the one hen is honking or like she is trying to clear her throat.

They are a tad over weight looking these two, they aren't leghorns. I will try and get a picture of them but it will be a mass of chickens. We have to expand our run for them significantly but the coop is well big enough to handle them.

Do you have any photos

Wheezing can be from a number of things - since you mention the conditions they were living in, it's possible that could be the cause - ammonia toxicity/poor air quality or even possibly molds from wet housing. Stress from moving can also exacerbate symptoms. If they are eating/drinking and active - at this point it's probably best to just keep watch on them - if symptoms worsen or they become lethargic, have mucous, eye discharge, facial swelling or other symptoms of respiratory illness, then consider separating them so you can treat them. A flock that size, even if they have a contagious respiratory illness, everyone would be considered exposed.

Do you have an existing flock of chickens? Any concerns that this new flock could bring illness/disease or parasites that could be spread to your chickens?

Check them all over very well for lice/mites - if you find any, then treat with a permethrin based poultry spray or dust.

 

[Jessica Thompson]

I could be that it swallowed something

 

[Jessica Thompson]

Oh I could be a slug my chicken did that

 

[Photokitty]

I believe she said cornishxjersey giant but these are thrm but no more wheezing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The wheezing seems to not be as loud and the one hen is honking or like she is trying to clear her throat...They are a tad over weight looking these two, they aren't leghorns....I believe she said cornishxjersey giant but these are thrm but no more wheezing.
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It's good they aren't wheezing anymore.

Could have been due to them being overweight and having stress due to the move.
Check both of them to see that their crops are empty overnight - sometimes crop issues can cause some wheezing.

I'm not sure what they are, but agree they aren't leghorns. You may want to post on the "what breeds" forum and see if someone recognizes them. You mention they may be a cornishXjersey giant - this cross may make them fall more into a "meat bird" category (I just don't know enough about genetics to say) - sometimes meat birds also develop difficulty walking, breathing problems and some heart issues.

I hope all goes well for you.