constantly honking hen *updated with video*

[lonnyandrinda]

In my opinion: As with most natural treatments DE is only good at prevention and treating smaller problems, for an infestation it will barely touch it. For example, if I am trying to be an organic gardener but wait to treat with DE until I have a squash bug infestation, DE is NOT going to save my garden, I will have to go for the big guns. Look at the base of her feathers near her vent and under her wings, if you definitely see little creepy crawlies running from the light I would go ahead and treat her with Sevin dust, put some in a pillow case, put her in up to her neck, and gently bat it around her until she is covered, then take her outside and let her shake herself off. You don't want her fighting infestations as well as whatever is going on with her.

Same thing probably goes for the garlic. It is good prevention but I don't know if it will do the job if you have a real problem on your hands. Definitely get her on some wormer medicine ASAP and keep up a really good diet as much as her appetite allows. I would also keep her separated from your other chickens, and if you have an extra crate/cage isolate anyone you hear sneezing or coughing at least until you can get something to treat them with.

I hope someone else can help you with her breathing/stretching problem. Sure does sound serious in your video. Good luck!

 

[notinoz2007]

thanks for all the replies. i dont have the means to separate anyone at this point but my main focus after work today is chickens. this morning i cleaned both waterers and one now has sav a chick the other has water with acv. they had the eggs w/ garlic this morning, along with plain greek yogurt, she is still eating ok and its top of the pecking order so i am confident she is getting enough.
i know these things are not a cure but i hope they can help her immune system until i get the meds in her later today. thanks again and please keep the info coming. does anyone know if this is for sure gape or a bad cold. found more sneezers in flock this morning.
gotta run.

 

[Eggsoteric]

It sounds like there's a chance it could be a "fungal" infection. She has that distinctive percolator sound to her. Read thru Speckled Hen's post on Fungal infections here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-poultry-often-mistaken-for-crd-mycoplasmosis

There are also some links at the bottom of the above link with respect to treating fungal infections using Oxine.

Good luck.

 

[notinoz2007]

i have checked her and some others under wings and vent area and see nothing. just for a split second i saw that bug near her comb when she was in the house last night. she is still alive after work today and i am about to leave to get meds. thanks for the support, and keep the ideas coming... i will search fungal infections when i get back home.

 

[notinoz2007]

k got home and looked down her throat for any signs of anything - she has stinky garlic breath from breakfast still... i saw no worms so i believe we can rule out gapeworm.i got dewormer just in case and plan to dose my whole flock - after i figure out what is wrong with her. i dont want to shock her system with the wrong kind of meds right now.

i did hear a lot of rattling when she was breathing in, and can see straight into her windpipe so thats not clogged (near the top anyway) other flock members are sneezing, but not her. if this is respiratory, which illness fits best??

i can tell she doesnt feel well because i have no problem catching her, but she still asserts herself to the other hens so i think thats a good sign, maybe she'll make it.

thanks everyone for your input.

 

[notinoz2007]

has anyone ever given cephalexin to chickens? i have some childrens strength in the fridge.
internet says this: Cephalexin is a cephalosporin antibiotic. Cephalosporin antibiotics suppress the growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, or protozoa.
it also helps with resp infections, however one side effect is difficulty breathing. so do i want to give this to a hen to help her breath...if it could make breathing difficult??