Coughing Chicken with Video

[Taranoella]

Hello,

I have a 8 month old hen who is coughing (or something like that). She is wheezy when she is not coughing so it is a respiratory issue. There is no discharge from her nose, she is eating, and even laying! It has been about a week now.

I islolated her, and have given her tetracycline for 5 days now. When she is isolated she is much quieter. I had thought she was better, so I let her back in with her peeps, but as soon as she is in the run she starts to cough again.

Has anyone heard this before? Do you have suggestions?

The video with the distinctive cough.

Thanks for your help,

Tara

 

[Rickba]

I watched the video, Didn't expect it to be that loud. It made my jump. lol. Seems more like a sneeze then a cough to me. Do you have a baby's nose aspirator? Ya know, one of those little rubber ball suction thingies. try cleaning her nose. Perhaps she has something in their she can't get out. It looks to me like she's trying to clean out her nostrils.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. As long as she doesn't have bubbles in her eyes, or a swollen eyelid or face, she may have a virus called infectious bronchitis. Usually it can go through the flock affecting many birds, but they normally get over it within a month or so. Testing can be done to get a diagnosis and distinguish from MG.

 

[Taranoella]

I watched the video, Didn't expect it to be that loud. It made my jump. lol. Seems more like a sneeze then a cough to me. Do you have a baby's nose aspirator? Ya know, one of those little rubber ball suction thingies. try cleaning her nose. Perhaps she has something in their she can't get out. It looks to me like she's trying to clean out her nostrils.

I know, it is really loud. Thanks for your suggestion, I appreciate it.

 

[Taranoella]

Welcome to BYC. As long as she doesn't have bubbles in her eyes, or a swollen eyelid or face, she may have a virus called infectious bronchitis. Usually it can go through the flock affecting many birds, but they normally get over it within a month or so. Testing can be done to get a diagnosis and distinguish from MG.

Thank you, it's nice to be here. I have read many posts before becoming a member. Looks like you are a seasoned birder!

She does not have bubbles in her eyes. If it is bronchitis, and its a virus, then I assume antibiotics will not work (which is certainly the case so far). What is MG?

It is odd, that the noise comes more often when she is in the run. She is the low bird on the pole, so perhaps it is the added stress of being with the other 2 girls.

I will do more research on chicken bronchitis. Thank you!

 

[Taranoella]

Welcome to BYC. As long as she doesn't have bubbles in her eyes, or a swollen eyelid or face, she may have a virus called infectious bronchitis. Usually it can go through the flock affecting many birds, but they normally get over it within a month or so. Testing can be done to get a diagnosis and distinguish from MG.

Got it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mycoplasma_gallisepticum

 

[Eggcessive]

Taranoella, you may want to read this link on common diseases and their symptoms, and pain attention to common respiratory diseases infectious bronchitis, infectious coryza, mycoplasma gallisepticum, and ILT (infectious larygotracheitis.)
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

I would only use an antibiotic if you see more symptoms, since any disease can be complicated by a secondary bacterial infection or E.coli air sacculitis.

AIRSACCULITIS
INFLAMMATION OF THE MUCOUS MEMBRANE OF THE AIR SACS OF BIRDS


Airsacculitis is not a disease itself, but rather a symptom of a disease caused by bacteria such as E. coli, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG), Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) or Mycoplasma meleagridis (MM). It typically peaks in the late winter and early fall, in keeping with cold/heat-stress and poor ventilation.

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• Symptoms
  Airsacculitis can be identified by moderate to severe swelling around the lower neck and heavy breathing. It will likely be accompanied by other symptoms of the causal disease.