Gapeworm or Heart Failure??

[dawg53]

Oh also, no scratching at his beak, just wiping his face after he eats.

Have you noticed any wetness on his neck feathers or underneath his wing feathers?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Put your ear on the side of his chest and listen closely for a "clicking" sound, no matter how faint it might be. (Heart valve issue.)
Also listen for a "whistling" sound. Let us know what you hear. (Ruptured air sac.)
I know did you did this before, but now you know what to listen for. Please let us know what you hear, if anything.

I busted out the stethoscope. His heart is beating faster than I can count. I did hear a slight clicking/tapping noise. It sounded like if you had something sticky on your finger and touched a table.

With each breath I could hear a slight squeaky noise and an occasional tap on his left side. It sounds like a squeaky shoe. On the front chest, I could hear a little wheeze, but it could have been the air coming in/out. He is breathing about once a second.

Here is a video from this morning
https://photos.app.goo.gl/o8eK7mHxtiyduGv86

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Have you noticed any wetness on his neck feathers or underneath his wing feathers?

Nope, no wetness. He is looking and acting normal besides the gasping

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for the video, it helped.
It's easier to say what it isnt rather than what it is: I dont believe it's a heart issue nor an air sac issue, nor a respiratory disease. It's definitely not gapeworms. The symptoms arnt there.

There might be a feed granule that went down his windpipe and got stuck. There's nothing you can do about it IF that's the case.
Other possibilities; he's adjusting his crop, or perhaps the gizzard (that something is trying to pass through and/or isnt being ground up, a piece of straw for example.) Only time will take care of that. If this is the case, there's nothing you can do and hopefully he can pass it on his own.
He's a pretty bird. The only recommendation I can give you is to continue comfort care and hopefully he'll recover back to normal or perhaps you can take him to a vet and see what the vet says, maybe an x-ray will determine what's going on.

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Thanks for the video, it helped.
It's easier to say what it isnt rather than what it is: I dont believe it's a heart issue nor an air sac issue, nor a respiratory disease. It's definitely not gapeworms. The symptoms arnt there.

There might be a feed granule that went down his windpipe and got stuck. There's nothing you can do about it IF that's the case.
Other possibilities; he's adjusting his crop, or perhaps the gizzard (that something is trying to pass through and/or isnt being ground up, a piece of straw for example.) Only time will take care of that. If this is the case, there's nothing you can do and hopefully he can pass it on his own.
He's a pretty bird. The only recommendation I can give you is to continue comfort care and hopefully he'll recover back to normal or perhaps you can take him to a vet and see what the vet says, maybe an x-ray will determine what's going on.

Thank you so much for the evaluation! I'll provide him some grit and just continue to let him be a house chicken. I'll finish his round of safeguard just in case (he has one more day).

Unfortunately, we don't do vets for chickens. They are here for our benefit (homesteading) not as long term pets. Even though he is not a layer or meatie, I cant bring myself to spend the money on a vet. I am sorry if that sounds harsh , but that is the mindset we have taken since getting chickens. Provide them the best possible care without going broke. Plus the closest avian vet is like over an hour away

I'll keep you all posted on how it turns out!

 

[dawg53]

Thank you so much for the evaluation! I'll provide him some grit and just continue to let him be a house chicken. I'll finish his round of safeguard just in case (he has one more day).

Unfortunately, we don't do vets for chickens. They are here for our benefit (homesteading) not as long term pets. Even though he is not a layer or meatie, I cant bring myself to spend the money on a vet. I am sorry if that sounds harsh , but that is the mindset we have taken since getting chickens. Provide them the best possible care without going broke. Plus the closest avian vet is like over an hour away

I'll keep you all posted on how it turns out!

I totally agree with you!

 

[Tookie]

How's he doing?

 

[PurpleCArTires]

Still gasping, but has not deteriorated at all. I moved him to a bird cage and he now has a bar he can roost on. He hops up and down from it, eats and drinks great. Was dust bathing in the sun yesterday on his "walk". He is just like a normal chicken, just gasping a few times a minute. He seems to be breathing heavy between gasps, but other than that, no signs of anything.

I still plan on picking up Tylan when I can get to the TSC, in the meantime I started giving him yogurt, clabber, and a bit of oregano oil. He also gets some nutridrench some days in his water.

 

[Tookie]

Still gasping, but has not deteriorated at all. I moved him to a bird cage and he now has a bar he can roost on. He hops up and down from it, eats and drinks great. Was dust bathing in the sun yesterday on his "walk". He is just like a normal chicken, just gasping a few times a minute. He seems to be breathing heavy between gasps, but other than that, no signs of anything.

I still plan on picking up Tylan when I can get to the TSC, in the meantime I started giving him yogurt, clabber, and a bit of oregano oil. He also gets some nutridrench some days in his water.

At least he hasn't got worse! Keep up the good work!

 

[PurpleCArTires]

At least he hasn't got worse! Keep up the good work!

Thanks! I saw an article about a "heimlich" maneuver where you grab him by the legs and swing him downward between your legs. The force is supposed to help dislodge something that might be stuck in the trachea or esophagus.

I am tempted to try it, I just don't want to stress him or give him whiplash. . If he keeps it up, I might give it a go and see if it helps. I'll have to wait for early morning so his crop isn't full and he "throws up" from the force