Gapeworm or Respiratory Illness?

[lilcheeks]

Last night when I was bringing my chickens in, I noticed one just sitting as I was refilling the food. Typically they all come rushing but this one just sat there. When I went towards it, I noticed it was stretching it's neck out (beak open) and breathing, with a wheezing sound. I picked her up and she felt very normal, but continued the stretched neck wheezing. I separated her (all other chickens are fine) and wasn't sure how things would turn out today, but I just went to check on her and she was just standing there looking at me and had a little neck stretching, but not as much as last night. I picked her up and again feels fine, in fact she tried to get away when i was trying to shine a light down her throat to see if there was any blockage (I couldn't tell). She still has a wheezing sound every time she takes a breath, and her poop is white and watery, but maybe that is normal.

She hasn't layed any eggs today and doesn't seem interested in food. She is drinking great, which is a good sign i think, and looks very normal otherwise (red comb, normal eyes, no sneezing or coughing, maybe a runny nose?). Any clue what may be going on? At first I thought gapeworm, but now i'm starting to think some sort of cold or respiratory infection? Should I treat something to be safe? If so, any idea what? I have safeguard, Ivermectin and Wazine available at the moment, but am more than happy to pick up something to make her feel better/get better quicker.

edit: I just did a cotton swab down her throat and no red worms, just a little mucus from what I could tell.

 

[Julia62]

Sounds similar to what one of mine is going through. She definitely has vent gleet and that part seems to be getting better, but today she was doing the open mouth neck stretch then retracting her neck and fluffing up. I took a stool sample to my avian vet to check for worms. Waiting on an answer. She does not have any wheezing though.

 

[MrsBrooke]

With a drippy beak and wheezing, I would consider worming her AND giving her some antibiotics.

Tylan 50 can be found at Tractor Supply or any local feed store. It's given orally 1/2cc for standard fowl, 1/4cc for bantams and pullets/cockerels. Use a syringe to dose.

Also grab some Valbazen while you're there. It kills every known worm and fluke a chicken can get. Dosage for standard size birds is 1/2cc given orally undiluted, 1/4cc for smaller birds.

There is a little upfront cost, but you can re-use the wormer and Tylan.

MrsB

 

[lilcheeks]

With a drippy beak and wheezing, I would consider worming her AND giving her some antibiotics.

Tylan 50 can be found at Tractor Supply or any local feed store. It's given orally 1/2cc for standard fowl, 1/4cc for bantams and pullets/cockerels. Use a syringe to dose.

Also grab some Valbazen while you're there. It kills every known worm and fluke a chicken can get. Dosage for standard size birds is 1/2cc given orally undiluted, 1/4cc for smaller birds.

There is a little upfront cost, but you can re-use the wormer and Tylan.

MrsB

I just bought Tylan but they didn't have any Valbazen. Is there a reason why you suggested that over safeguard or Ivermectin?

Also for the Tylan, do you just drip it into her beak?

 

[MrsBrooke]

I only recommend Valbazen, because it is the most comprehensive of the wormers and kills the parasite load slowly (starves them), which allows the chicken to pass the worms over a period of time. That goes a long way in preventing a wad of worms going through their system... It can cause blockages. :/

Safeguard and Ivermectin are good, too, but I understand higher doses are required and must sometimes be used together to get all worms.

Touch the syringe to the right corner of her beak. Pull gently on her wattles. Her mouth will open and she should drink it.

It's also a good idea to isolate in a crate in the garage away from the other birds. Give her food and water, of course. This way, you can monitor her poops, behavior, and whether or not she's eating and drinking.

It's VERY important you keep her hydrated. If you feel she's off her water, please let us know.

I hope she perks up!

PS - I'd like to note that gapeworms are rather rare. Granted, a chicken certainly can get them, but it's unlikely to be gapes. Chickens will stretch their necks out to adjust food in their crops. Speaking of which, how IS her crop? Hard? Spongy? Feel it tonight and then again in the morning BEFORE you put food down. Should be nice and full tonight and empty in the morning.

MrsB

 

[lilcheeks]

Thanks MrsBrooke for all the great information!! Since I didn't have any Valbazen available to me, I ended up using safeguard, but will be buying some Valbazen online today for the future. Because my hen wasn't eating yesterday, it made it difficult to give the safeguard but I believe she ended up eating roughly a pea size of the paste. I also successfully gave her the Tylan 50. I wasn't able to check her crop last night after reading this (I got this in the morning) but I remember holder her yesterday and feeling around her crop area and it felt empty. Which makes sense because at the time she didn't want to eat or drink. I'll be giving her the Tylan 50 for another 4 days and hopefully will see more improvement.

This morning I made her scrambled eggs and made a batch of electrolyte water to hopefully entice her to eat. Immediatly I noticed she was feeling a little better because when I got to her area, she walked out of her little box and went crazy for the eggs. Yesterday she wouldn't eat anything I brought her (pancakes, blood worms, corn, etc). Then I saw her drinking the electrolyte water, which was a great sign. I still hear the wheezing when she breaths but at least she is eating and drinking today. Thanks again for all the help!

 

[MrsBrooke]

I'm thrilled to hear she's eating! Hopefully, she will continue to improve.

You did a great job with your mama. I pray she makes a full recovery!

Keep us posted.

MrsB

 

[casportpony]

Thanks MrsBrooke for all the great information!! Since I didn't have any Valbazen available to me, I ended up using safeguard, but will be buying some Valbazen online today for the future. Because my hen wasn't eating yesterday, it made it difficult to give the safeguard but I believe she ended up eating roughly a pea size of the paste. I also successfully gave her the Tylan 50. I wasn't able to check her crop last night after reading this (I got this in the morning) but I remember holder her yesterday and feeling around her crop area and it felt empty. Which makes sense because at the time she didn't want to eat or drink. I'll be giving her the Tylan 50 for another 4 days and hopefully will see more improvement.

This morning I made her scrambled eggs and made a batch of electrolyte water to hopefully entice her to eat. Immediatly I noticed she was feeling a little better because when I got to her area, she walked out of her little box and went crazy for the eggs. Yesterday she wouldn't eat anything I brought her (pancakes, blood worms, corn, etc). Then I saw her drinking the electrolyte water, which was a great sign. I still hear the wheezing when she breaths but at least she is eating and drinking today. Thanks again for all the help!

The Safeguard dose that gets almost all worms, including gapes, is 0.23 ml per pound for five consecutive days.

Tylan given orally should be given at least twice a day.


-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

With a drippy beak and wheezing, I would consider worming her AND giving her some antibiotics.

Tylan 50 can be found at Tractor Supply or any local feed store. It's given orally 1/2cc for standard fowl, 1/4cc for bantams and pullets/cockerels. Use a syringe to dose.

Also grab some Valbazen while you're there. It kills every known worm and fluke a chicken can get. Dosage for standard size birds is 1/2cc given orally undiluted, 1/4cc for smaller birds.

There is a little upfront cost, but you can re-use the wormer and Tylan.

MrsB

Did you know that a singe dose of Valbazen does not treat gapeworms?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

I just bought Tylan but they didn't have any Valbazen. Is there a reason why you suggested that over safeguard or Ivermectin?

Also for the Tylan, do you just drip it into her beak?

Safeguard was a good choice. Ivermectin is not an effective poultry wormer, so don't waste your money on it.

-Kathy