Help now, PLEASE!!! Hen down, gasping for air, comb and wattles purple

[Granolamom]

Tried the olive oil. She's the same (won't really swallow anything). We gave her a few drops of warm water earlier, but she sneezed or coughed when we dripped it into her open beak (with every breath, she rises up, beak wide open). Must not be a complete blockage, since she's still hanging in there. Could this be some kind of rapid onset bronchitis? The weather here in Georgia has been horrific, and my chooks are free-range, meaning they do get wet when it pours down, even though they do have a heated henhouse to sleep in and dry off at night.

 

[chickletranch]

i hope she recovers. it does sound like a respiratory problem. we had a rooster with ILT, close to death, wheezing badly. the vet was able to save him with a steroid shot, along with antibiotics. is there an avian vet in your area that you can call?

it would be wise to provide your birds with some kind of shelter from the rain. mine free range also, but we have a covered pen they can access when it rains, along with an old dog house and some big tables that provide a dry place.

lynn

 

[Granolamom]

Quote:
Lynn, our chickens do have a bunch of places they use to get out of the rain. Half of their run is covered with a metal roof, and they also go and hang out with the water-shy goats in their shed, as well as 2 or 3 other spots in the yard that are covered. They are rather on the adventurous side, though, and usually don't mind getting wet. I certainly hope that this is not some contagious disease that will affect my entire flock. We had a junior roo with what we thought was cocci a few weeks back, and nursed him back to health (treated the entire flock, as well). Then, one of our new Welsummer pullets got lethargic, and we've had her in the house for 3 days (she's better, after a course of Colloidal Silver, and lots of TLC, yogurt, boiled egg, and vitamins). Frieda is by far the worst we've ever had, and I don't have much confidence that she'll make it through the night. I have her on a heating pad (covered with towels, to prevent her from getting too hot), and I've been giving her Colloidal Silver and Electrolites with a dropper. She has no interest in her surroundings, and concentrates on nothing but her breathing. We've discussed culling her, but hesitate to do it just yet.

 

[Granolamom]

Oh, and no, there is no vet in our area who will even entertain the idea of looking at a sick chicken...

 

[nnbreeder]

Do you have any medications on hand like Tylan or Pen?

 

[gameboygal12]

sounds like you are doing everything right. how old is she? is she elderly?

 

[bantybev]

I had a one week old chick doing the same thing...gasping, and labored breathing with neck stretched. No other symptoms besides an occasional sneeze. No discharge from nose or eyes.
At first we thought it was something in her throat and tried the olive oil. After 2 days of gasping with neck stretched and very little eating and drinking, she started coughing (at least thats what we think it was). SHe slept with her mouth open for a few minutes at a time, but usually woke up gasping and sneezing again. We really thought she wouldn't make it through the night.
I started giving her a drop of polyvisol (no iron) mixed with 2 or 3 drops of water, hardboiled egg yolks mixed with yogurt, her starter crumbles, and a bit of warm water, into a kind or slurry several times a day. (remember, she was only a week old)
SHe slowly started improving and after a week of touch and go, she was eating, drinking running around like the other chicks. I am still baffled by what she had and that she recovered so completely. I researched and researched chicken illnesses and she just didn't have the other symptoms of anything I could find. My best guess is some kind of bronchitis or pnumonia. None of the other 11 chicks had any of the symptoms, so I doubt it was anything contagious.
My point in telling you all this is sometimes all they need is a little extra attention and care, which you seem to be doing a great job of. Don't give up hope for her. We were contemplating culling just as I noticed a slight improvement in her and I am so glad we waited. Your hen sounds very similar to my chick.

Good luck and I hope your hen recovers quickly.

 

[Dora'smom]

If they free range, is it possible that she got into something? Some mold or fungi? The purple comb sounds cardiac, but she might have that effect secondary to a mold issue, since she really isn't moving. I am so sorry I don't know how to really help you.

 

[Granolamom]

Update: She's gone.
Thank you all for trying to help. This is the first time in 2+ years of chicken keeping, that I was at a complete loss and had no clue what to do for her. She went down really fast, and her breathing got louder and louder by the minute. When she started looking all wide-eyed, kicking her legs, and could no longer hold her head up, the kids and I left the room and my husband "helped her to the other side".
Rest in Peace, Frieda, Queen of the Flock at Seven Feathers Farm.

 

[Contessa]

Quote:
So sorry for your loss