Help my chicken is making scary sounds...respiratory illness?

[phate008]

Hello,

Today my pullet woke up and came out, but one was acting strangely and she decided to go back inside. She came out when I checked back on her and she started making a sound. I assume it may be her breathing, but it sounds like a horn about every second. I saw a video on youtube here

where it was nearly the same sound. I have 3 pullets all about 6 months old. It has rained the last 3-4 days on and off and they spent time in their coop. I live in a very hot zone for Corona right now (New York) and a vet would be hard to accomplish because I live with high risk people. Please, someone help me figure this out and what I can do. The only 2 medications I have are Amprolium and VetRX. Is this an obstruction, respiratory illness. What can I do? Should I order antibiotics? If someone can get back to me with advice I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much

 

[phate008]

Today we threw them some whole shelled sunflower seeds to peck at. She has had them occasionally and according to sources online, they are ok, but maybe she ate one that was too big? The more I think about it the more I think it is an obstruction. She was not making this sound earlier this morning. I guess she could have had a respiratory issue too, and it just started to effect her more. The comments section in the video above had a person say the same thing happened with their bird and they gave them oxytetracycline and they claimed it made them better very quickly.

 

[phate008]

She is sneezing a lot as well which I am noticing now.

 

[phate008]

Boy that was a miserable experience. I took her to an emergency bird vet. The whole way there she was loudly emitting that horrible sound. It sounded like a rusted see-saw going up and down. She was also mouth breathing. Other than the sound she seemed normal. Because of the Corona virus I had to do a discreet drop off and wait in the car. The vet called me and told me that she didn't see anything out of the ordinary in her airway or beak. She then went on to list the normal parade of tests Endoscopy, x-ray, blood test, fluids, etc. The visit itself was $160 just to be seen. She said that her comb looked healthy and she was being feisty and pecking her. This is normal for her. Her name is Cookie, but we pronouce it Coo-key because she is a little crazy.

I told the vet that I wasn't comfortable with all the tests, and I wanted to start off simple and try a course of antibiotics. She prescribed an antibiotic and an anti-inflammatory. The nurse tech met us in the parking lot (at a distance) and showed us how to administer the medication. She opened her beak up and stuck her finger inside, she placed the pill in her mouth, then used her finger to push it to the back of her throat. She used a syringe with water and the anti inflammatory to wash it down.

Now, the reason I now think she just had a small obstruction or seed caught in her beak is because it cleared up a minute after the medication was given. She was fairly quiet the whole way home, one or two wheezes, but that's it. After getting home I was going to isolate her, but I wanted to see how she acted and if she would eat and drink. She did. She got her normal chatter back and hasn't had that horrible sound.

Now, what should I do? Do I continue using the prescribed meds, or do I see how she acts without them? With my anxiety I couldn't focus on anything else knowing she was out there lying down, having a hard time breathing. I have no regrets spending the money and taking her there, but I do question whether it is right to put her body through a regiment of medication if it is unnecessary. Anyone have any thoughts?

Thanks