Gasping and hiccuping

[CrabbeCottage]

Pinkie hiccuping/gasping

Hi all, I have a 5 month old polish hen/cockerel, Pinkie... still unsure of sex! She occasionally makes a real screeching hiccup noise but today I’ve noticed that her breathing is quite gaspy and she’s been doing the noise a lot more today. It’s not a hot pant as I’m in the Uk and the temperature has been freezing all day, I’ve felt her crop and it’s not hard or impacted, I have also gently put a Qtip down her throat to see if there’s evidence of gape worm but nothing interesting to report from that, does anyone have any ideas or suggestions what could be the cause? I’ve tried to attach a video from when they went to bed tonight so hopefully that will be included and you will be able to see what I’m trying to describe.

Thanks in advance for any responses.

Julie

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is sneezing or snicking, which could be from getting dust or feed into her nostrils, but could also be a respiratory infection if she is doing it often. Can you see any bubbles in either eye, swelling of the eyelids, nasal drainage, or crackles with breathing? Some respiratory diseases are viruses, while others are bacterial, or from mold fungus. Gapeworms cannot be seen by swabbing the throat since they are inside the trachea, but you can get some fresh droppings collected and checked by your vet to look for gapeworm and other worm larvae. Gapeworm is a more rare worm, but gasping and gaping are a common sign of respiratory diseases, such as infectious bronchitis, MG, and others.

 

[CrabbeCottage]

Thanks for your reply @Eggcessive, there’s no discharge from anywhere or bubbly eyes. In the little video of pinkie that was quite a quiet ‘hiccup’ but they’ve been pretty loud and causing her to really jolt.
Ive started the chickens on their worming course this week, but if no improvement can be seen what would one do for a respirator illness?

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry, but I missed your video earlier. I would get another pair of hands to hold her while you shine a torch into her throat to look for any mucus or yellow plaques. Chickens can get different respiratory diseases, and only bacterial diseases such as MG or coryza would respond to antibiotics. The few viruses they can get (infectious bronchitis, ILT, and others) have to run their course over several weeks. Mold can cause a fungal disease called aspergillosis, and there is no easy treatment for that. There are other more serious viruses such as Newcastles. Here is some reading about some of the diseases mentioned:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[CrabbeCottage]

Thanks @Eggcessive, I’ll get my husband to help hold her tomorrow while I take a look down her throat for mucus. Fingers crossed it’s something she’ll get over as she’s so young I’d hate to loose her.
Will report back tomorrow with any more findings.

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that she is taking plenty of fluids, and they can also be put in her feed in a small bowl.

 

[CrabbeCottage]

Will do, many thanks for your help.