- Jul 24, 2013
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Please help! One of my favorite hens, a Wyandotte Bantam named Cream, has become sick. I think it started somewhat a few weeks ago. She began breathing a little heavily when I held her, though this wasn't apparent if you just watched her. She also seemed to mysteriously lose her voice. She used to be rather vocal, always wailing when unhappy or laying an egg. But that stopped--she still makes a few soft noises at times, but only rarely. Despite those two signs, I didn't consider that she was sick, since there were other explanations: All of my Wyandottes (except Cream until now) breathe a little heavier when I hold them. And the fact that she no longer wailed could simply be because she had stopped laying.
Fast forward until a few days ago. Cream gradually began getting more lethargic, and began breathing heavily even when I wasn't holding her. She continued eating, though. However, yesterday she seemed much worse. When I went out to check my chickens, Cream was standing in a corner, breathing heavily. I grabbed her and gave her food to eat, and shortly noticed something else really unusual--one of my young bantam pullets was attacking her! Not attacking seriously, but jumping at her and puffing up. That never has happened with Cream before. She is the flock leader, and strictly demands respect from all of the other birds. More worried, I brought her inside and did some research.
Her symptoms: heavy breathing, little weight loss, slight disinterest in food, greenish/watery droppings.
Age: 2 1/2 years old
Any previous sickness: none
Laying schedule: She has not laid since June 7th of this year. That is not unusual for her, though, since she is a high quality showbird, and has not been bred for egg production. Her egg laying has been very sporadic this year, but I did manage to hatch 6 healthy chicks from her this spring.
Vaccinations: Vaccinated for Marek's disease.
Flock health/history: Had a bird get coccidiosis in March, which later died of egg binding in June. Marek's is in my flock, but all current birds are vaccinated, and I haven't had any problems with the disease since last fall. Haven't had a respiratory disease since June of 2013.
Her abdomen doesn't seem hard, there is no discharge from her eyes or nostrils, and no respiratory noises seem to come from her lungs. However, I do occasionally notice a "popping" noise coming from the posterior of her body--maybe from the abdominal air sacs?
Current treatment: vitamins/electrolytes and probiotics in water. Soaked her for 20 minutes to help with any stuck egg this morning. She has eaten a little moistened feed, but not a lot. Have been misting her with Oxine, in case it is fungal.
My current diagnosis, even though it is supposedly rare: aspergillosis. That seems to fit with her loss of voice, silent breathing, weight loss, and gradual weakening.
If anyone has suggestions as to what to do, or at least what is wrong, I would really appreciate them. This bird is my flock leader, a wonderful showbird, and a very sweet little hen who has played a major part in my flock in her life. It is really hard for me to watch her slowly waste away, and be able do do nothing.
Fast forward until a few days ago. Cream gradually began getting more lethargic, and began breathing heavily even when I wasn't holding her. She continued eating, though. However, yesterday she seemed much worse. When I went out to check my chickens, Cream was standing in a corner, breathing heavily. I grabbed her and gave her food to eat, and shortly noticed something else really unusual--one of my young bantam pullets was attacking her! Not attacking seriously, but jumping at her and puffing up. That never has happened with Cream before. She is the flock leader, and strictly demands respect from all of the other birds. More worried, I brought her inside and did some research.
Her symptoms: heavy breathing, little weight loss, slight disinterest in food, greenish/watery droppings.
Age: 2 1/2 years old
Any previous sickness: none
Laying schedule: She has not laid since June 7th of this year. That is not unusual for her, though, since she is a high quality showbird, and has not been bred for egg production. Her egg laying has been very sporadic this year, but I did manage to hatch 6 healthy chicks from her this spring.
Vaccinations: Vaccinated for Marek's disease.
Flock health/history: Had a bird get coccidiosis in March, which later died of egg binding in June. Marek's is in my flock, but all current birds are vaccinated, and I haven't had any problems with the disease since last fall. Haven't had a respiratory disease since June of 2013.
Her abdomen doesn't seem hard, there is no discharge from her eyes or nostrils, and no respiratory noises seem to come from her lungs. However, I do occasionally notice a "popping" noise coming from the posterior of her body--maybe from the abdominal air sacs?
Current treatment: vitamins/electrolytes and probiotics in water. Soaked her for 20 minutes to help with any stuck egg this morning. She has eaten a little moistened feed, but not a lot. Have been misting her with Oxine, in case it is fungal.
My current diagnosis, even though it is supposedly rare: aspergillosis. That seems to fit with her loss of voice, silent breathing, weight loss, and gradual weakening.
If anyone has suggestions as to what to do, or at least what is wrong, I would really appreciate them. This bird is my flock leader, a wonderful showbird, and a very sweet little hen who has played a major part in my flock in her life. It is really hard for me to watch her slowly waste away, and be able do do nothing.
