Chickups??? or Grapeworm UPDATE GRAPHIC Pics added Dead Hen!!!!!!!!!

[pattgal]

Ok so I have this chicken that seems to have the hiccups. My meat birds have had the hiccups before but only for about 10 minutes at a time after drinking.
this hen is constantly hiccuping and seems sleepy. Not lethargic just trying to catch some winks, like the hiccups are interrupting her sleep or something. So when the others are on the range she is inside trying to sleep. I was observing her today and noticed she had her mouth open for a bit but not panting.
Is this cause for concern?

 

[ladrholman]

I have had chickens that seem to have the hiccups. They are intermittent. Have not noticed any other symptoms with them though. Sorry not very helpful... only new and still learning the hard way!!

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Catch her and open her mouth and have someone hold a flashlight to look down her throat for any obstructions. If you suspect gapeworm...get a Q-tip and gently stick it 1 inch down her throat, swab and gently pull the Q-tip out. If you see a red in color "Y" shaped worm....you'll have your answer.

 

[pattgal]

Quote:
Catch her and open her mouth and have someone hold a flashlight to look down her throat for any obstructions. If you suspect gapeworm...get a Q-tip and gently stick it 1 inch down her throat, swab and gently pull the Q-tip out. If you see a red in color "Y" shaped worm....you'll have your answer.

I tried the Q tip thing, did not find any worms on it of any kind. I did pull out a splinter and brown foamy mucus though.
and come to find out they all have fleas.
they are getting a change of bedding this weekend and a dust bath made out of 100% DE, lol

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Catch her and open her mouth and have someone hold a flashlight to look down her throat for any obstructions. If you suspect gapeworm...get a Q-tip and gently stick it 1 inch down her throat, swab and gently pull the Q-tip out. If you see a red in color "Y" shaped worm....you'll have your answer.

I tried the Q tip thing, did not find any worms on it of any kind. I did pull out a splinter and brown foamy mucus though.
and come to find out they all have fleas.
they are getting a change of bedding this weekend and a dust bath made out of 100% DE, lol

Dont use DE, it might be a preventative, but not a treatment for fleas. Use sevin dust. I've used it on my chickens the last 5 years for lice (when they had them) and on my dogs for fleas since forever. I'm glad you pulled a splinter out of her throat and didnt get surprised with gapeworms. I hope she's feeling better and I know she'll even feel better after you dust her. Redust her again in 10 days for flea eggs that hatch. Dust her house,nests, roosts and repeat in 10 days. Good luck.

 

[pattgal]

Will do on the Sevin, I hope our local feed store carries it.
I pulled out the splinter but she's still hiccuping like crazy. I am at my witz end with her. I found one dead this morning and had to cull another. one had no cartilage left in her leg (probably old age related) and the one that was already dead was a combination of being pecked to death and a prolapsed vent? (I'm guessing I wont get my Over sized large eggs anymore)
ill put the pictures up in case anyone is interested
Whatever this hiccuping thing is, I hope its not related

the one I found dead

the vent

the area close to the vent, greenish in color

Any ideas, am I dealing with one problem or a few?

 

[pattgal]

One more thing I forgot to mention, when I opened her up it was a mess. I don't know a whole lot about chicken anatomy but things were leaking out quite a bit. horrible smell. we do meat chickens so I know what to expect when I open up a chicken.
That would explain the green butt though