Appreciate any suggestions here. I've been looking and looking for answers but nothing seems to fit.
I have an 8 month old Standard Buff Orpington hen named Pip. (also have two other BO hens) They are my loves!
I noticed two evenings ago as she was sitting on my lap before bed, that her breathing was more shallow and quick. Almost like she isnt breathing in all the way. Her nose had some wetness and she was shaking her head a bit. No sneezing. At night I give them a bit of cracked corn and birdseed before they go to roost. I'm not positive that the moist nostrils wasnt from drinking water after her snack. She eats like a pig. She is drinking water, not more or less than usual. Doing a little mouth breathing and a little of that open mouth/neck stretch thing. Again, I've seen this only in the evening. Yesterday morning she was fine. Last night same thing happened. Now this morning... she is absolutely fine.. nostrils dry and everything. I made sure to pick her up and check her abdomen for any egg-bound-ness (?). I felt her chest area wondering if when she pigs out at night that is causing her to not be able to breathe well ..... ya know when you eat too much and you feel like you cant breathe? Or maybe her crop is impacted and she cant breathe (?) Anyway, I don't really know what it should feel like but her whole chest felt kinda like... I guess a little full of water or something... or air.... or maybe its just fat.... not huge by any means... I massaged and rubbed for about 15 min and didnt she love it! (kept my hands warm too!). Right before I finished she did do the open beak neck stretch thing.... So I'm having a panic attack wondering what I should do!! I am worried about Gape Worms... I don't want to have to wait for more definite symptoms to treat her! She's my baby!! Will it hurt her to treat for Gape Worm if she doesnt have them? Any other suggestion of what this sounds like to more experienced chicken owners? I treat these girls better than some parents treat their children.
They have layer pellets available all day.
They have fresh, clean water.
They have a poop free 4X4 insulated coop to sleep in at night.
They have an enclosed (fort knox esque) attached run that is 1/4 sand and then 3/4 dirt/sand covered in pine flake for the winter. It is totally covered by a roof and the sides are all plastic for winter. There is plenty of ventillation.
They get warm fresh corn and peas most mornings. Sometimes instead they get one apple halved with plain yogurt, pumpkin seed.
Before bed they get 1 cup mixture of cracked corn, BOS and birdseed.
Their poops from last night were all solid, I didnt see anything that looked like worms.
She did have diarreha (sp?) on my leg this a.m. while I was massaging her chest.
I can't smell anything sour from her mouth.
Thank you thank you thank you for any suggestions ! I may run out and get a tube of Safeguard?
I have an 8 month old Standard Buff Orpington hen named Pip. (also have two other BO hens) They are my loves!
I noticed two evenings ago as she was sitting on my lap before bed, that her breathing was more shallow and quick. Almost like she isnt breathing in all the way. Her nose had some wetness and she was shaking her head a bit. No sneezing. At night I give them a bit of cracked corn and birdseed before they go to roost. I'm not positive that the moist nostrils wasnt from drinking water after her snack. She eats like a pig. She is drinking water, not more or less than usual. Doing a little mouth breathing and a little of that open mouth/neck stretch thing. Again, I've seen this only in the evening. Yesterday morning she was fine. Last night same thing happened. Now this morning... she is absolutely fine.. nostrils dry and everything. I made sure to pick her up and check her abdomen for any egg-bound-ness (?). I felt her chest area wondering if when she pigs out at night that is causing her to not be able to breathe well ..... ya know when you eat too much and you feel like you cant breathe? Or maybe her crop is impacted and she cant breathe (?) Anyway, I don't really know what it should feel like but her whole chest felt kinda like... I guess a little full of water or something... or air.... or maybe its just fat.... not huge by any means... I massaged and rubbed for about 15 min and didnt she love it! (kept my hands warm too!). Right before I finished she did do the open beak neck stretch thing.... So I'm having a panic attack wondering what I should do!! I am worried about Gape Worms... I don't want to have to wait for more definite symptoms to treat her! She's my baby!! Will it hurt her to treat for Gape Worm if she doesnt have them? Any other suggestion of what this sounds like to more experienced chicken owners? I treat these girls better than some parents treat their children.
They have layer pellets available all day.
They have fresh, clean water.
They have a poop free 4X4 insulated coop to sleep in at night.
They have an enclosed (fort knox esque) attached run that is 1/4 sand and then 3/4 dirt/sand covered in pine flake for the winter. It is totally covered by a roof and the sides are all plastic for winter. There is plenty of ventillation.
They get warm fresh corn and peas most mornings. Sometimes instead they get one apple halved with plain yogurt, pumpkin seed.
Before bed they get 1 cup mixture of cracked corn, BOS and birdseed.
Their poops from last night were all solid, I didnt see anything that looked like worms.
She did have diarreha (sp?) on my leg this a.m. while I was massaging her chest.
I can't smell anything sour from her mouth.
Thank you thank you thank you for any suggestions ! I may run out and get a tube of Safeguard?
