Gurgling noises

[Dogthebantyrooster]

I just started a flock of chickens, and this is my first time owning chickens. I dont really know anything about raising them. I just bought a wyandotte hen at a poultry sale. She is full grown. I did not notice any problems with her until I got home and as I went to set her cage down on the floor I heard a gurgling noise, so I picked the cage back up and heard it again. I brought her home in a small dog kennel. After I transferred her into a cage for the night that she can rest in more comfortably she started gurgling more and sort of looked like she was trying to "cough".

What is going on with her and how should I treat this? I dont know what I am doing here.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
When you bring home chickens, no matter where they came from, you should always quarantine them a good distance away from your flock for at least 30 days minimum. If there's any problems with the newbies, quarantining helps prevent the spread of problems to your chickens and gives you time to treat the problem(s). This also gives you time to inspect the newbies...visually inspecting them for lice/mites, worming, checking their feet for scaly leg mites and bumblefoot, vent area, etc...
I hope for your sake that after you brought the Wyandotte hen home, that you placed her in quarantine away from your flock. It sounds like she has a CRD (Chronic Respiratory Disease.)
You can treat her with tylan 50 injectable. Dosage is 1/2cc once a day x 7 days and you can give it to her orally. Most feed stores carry it or you can order it from Jefferslivestock.com or call them. Keep in my that if this is a viral issue, antibiotics wont help. Even if it the tylan works, she'll be a carrier of whatever disease it is and your flock will remain at risk.

 

[Dogthebantyrooster]

Actually, I do have her in a seperate cage away from my other two hens. Thank you for the advice. I will try that.

 

[chickengrl]

I can't say much more than Dawg53. I would add that after learning it the hard way myself, that it is a good practice to stay far, far away from poultry swaps, auctions, Craig's list, and a guy down the street. This is the most common way to bring home a respiratory infection that can wipe out your flock. I would even reccomend to take it a step further and avoid buying adult or started birds from anyone. Not that they are trying to pass off sick birds always, but most folks don't realize that a sick bird that recovers will remain a carrier of the disease even though they look completely healthy. There are also plenty of folks more than happy to sell you a sick bird. The safest way to add to your flock is hatching eggs yourself or buying day old chicks from reputable NPIP breeders and NPIP hatcheries with good names. I am really sorry you are having to deal with this. Honestly, I would cull the sick bird and protect your birds. Hey, I guess I had lots more to say!! Sorry, just something I have had personal, painful experience with. Good luck!

 

[Dogthebantyrooster]

Thank you Chickengrl. I have been debating on whether or not I should just go ahead and cut my losses and cull the sick one, or try to treat her and hope that she gets better. I bought some antibiotics today, so Im going to give that a shot before I take the drastic step of putting her down.