Help! Hen with Excessive Honking, and Open Mouth.

[vwhite]

One of my hens has frequent honking fits and holds her mouth open a lot. She has been doing this for over a month, maybe longer. At first I thought it was respiratory (she is a young bird) but now I am not so sure. She had a little blood on her beak today and my 9 year old daughter said she saw blood inside her mouth as well. I am wondering if she could possibly have Gapeworm but am not sure how to know for sure or how to treat. Also not sure if I should treat the others, we have 18 total. I wanted to get Flubenvet but it's only sold in the UK. I am so confused as to which wormers work for Gapeworm and which do not, I keep seeing contradictory posts. Also if you worm them are the eggs safe to eat?

Any help on how I can be sure what it is and how I should treat would be great. I have a video, but I don't think videos can be posted on this site.

Thanks in advance!

V

 

[dawg53]

One of my hens has frequent honking fits and holds her mouth open a lot. She has been doing this for over a month, maybe longer. At first I thought it was respiratory (she is a young bird) but now I am not so sure. She had a little blood on her beak today and my 9 year old daughter said she saw blood inside her mouth as well. I am wondering if she could possibly have Gapeworm but am not sure how to know for sure or how to treat. Also not sure if I should treat the others, we have 18 total. I wanted to get Flubenvet but it's only sold in the UK. I am so confused as to which wormers work for Gapeworm and which do not, I keep seeing contradictory posts. Also if you worm them are the eggs safe to eat?

Any help on how I can be sure what it is and how I should treat would be great. I have a video, but I don't think videos can be posted on this site.

Thanks in advance!

V

Since your hen has been acting like this for over a month, it's not gapeworm. She would be dead by now if it was. It sounds like she may have Infectious Laryngotracheitis (ILT,) a respiratory disease. You can google it and read up on it if you wish.

 

[vwhite]

Here is a video of her.

I will look ILT up, thank you.

 

[vwhite]

I looked it up and I am not sure. I am just so confused! She doesn't have any problems with either of her eyes and I haven't seen any mucus or anything coming out of her nose BUT I did see a little blood on her beak today and as I said my daughter says she saw some blood in her mouth but we haven't seen any since.

I just don't know what to think and now I am extremely worried about my other birdies.

 

[roostersandhens]

I saw the video. That is weird poor girl. I dont know what it could be.

 

[Island Roo]

Mmm.
I would look down her throat. I wear a headlamp, gently grap her comb with 2 fingers and pull her head back. Her beak will open for viewing.

Maybe something stuck in her throat - but for over a month???? It's still worth a look to see if you notice anything unusal there.