Help! What's wrong with her?

[dawg53]

I did see another post left by a user on another gapeworm posting that you can tell for sure if they have gapeworm by swabbing their throats with a cotton swab (the worms will appear as thin red strings).

I used to think that as well. The worms are located too far down the trachea to be reached even by a long q-tip.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is she this morning?

 

[Eggcessive]

It has to be hard to watch your hen gasp for so long, and look desperate to breathe. It is probably a respiratory infection, but it is okay to treat for gapeworms anyway. But the SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or horse paste has to be given orally for 5 days. Dosage is 1/4 ml (0.25) per pound of weight. Respiratory diseases can be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Antibiotics such as Tylosin in the water might help if it is bacterial, such as MG. Does she have any bubbles in her eyes? Or nasla drainage? Usually that has to be ordered online. If a vet is possible today, that would be good. Make sure your coop ventilation is good, and that there is no mold which might add to her symptoms. Hopefully, if she has something stuck, it will move down. Be careful giving her oil orally, because it can be aspirated.

 

[aart]

Be careful giving her oil orally, because it can be aspirated.

Yes, this should help.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...dications-to-all-poultry-and-waterfowl.73335/

 

[CoopsNPoops]

It has to be hard to watch your hen gasp for so long, and look desperate to breathe. It is probably a respiratory infection, but it is okay to treat for gapeworms anyway. But the SafeGuard Liquid Goat Wormer or horse paste has to be given orally for 5 days. Dosage is 1/4 ml (0.25) per pound of weight. Respiratory diseases can be viral, bacterial, or fungal. Antibiotics such as Tylosin in the water might help if it is bacterial, such as MG. Does she have any bubbles in her eyes? Or nasla drainage? Usually that has to be ordered online. If a vet is possible today, that would be good. Make sure your coop ventilation is good, and that there is no mold which might add to her symptoms. Hopefully, if she has something stuck, it will move down. Be careful giving her oil orally, because it can be aspirated.

Shes no better or no worse this morning. She has no other symptoms (bubbly eyes, nasal drainage, etc) It's not something stuck because another hen is doing it this morning as well. Its definitely something effecting more than one in the flock.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

Another hen is doing it this morning, so it isn't something stuck in the throat. I carefully watched and inspected the rest of the flock all afternoon and while they were on the roost. No others had any suspicions symptoms and seemed to be perfectly healthy and normal. So whatever it is is hitting suddenly with no warning.

 

[Peas4Ducks]

Another hen is doing it this morning, so it isn't something stuck in the throat. I carefully watched and inspected the rest of the flock all afternoon and while they were on the roost. No others had any suspicions symptoms and seemed to be perfectly healthy and normal. So whatever it is is hitting suddenly with no warning.

If it’s not gapeworm, it could be aspergillosis. Is their coop ever damp? Is it well-ventilated?

If it is aspergillosis, unfortunately there’s no treatment but removing them from the environment with spores can help. Maybe try keeping your two that are showing symptoms inside for a few days to see if they improve? And it might be worth going ahead and treating them for gapeworm, just in case. Hopefully @azygous can weigh in on whether they’d recommend that or not.

I truly hope both these hens make it, but I would go ahead and figure out the process for having a necropsy done if one of them dies. It looks like the University of Missouri will do it. Then you’ll know for sure what’s going on and be able to help the rest of the flock.

 

[azygous]

It does no harm to treat for worms and just have that base covered. If you have meds for respiratory illness, my personal feeling on that is, again, it would do no harm to give it a try. You can rig a misting tent if you have a vaporizer. Betadine in the water, or Oxine, misted over a chicken with breathing difficulties can help combat bacteria and fungal upper respiratory symptoms.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

If it’s not gapeworm, it could be aspergillosis. Is their coop ever damp? Is it well-ventilated?

If it is aspergillosis, unfortunately there’s no treatment but removing them from the environment with spores can help. Maybe try keeping your two that are showing symptoms inside for a few days to see if they improve? And it might be worth going ahead and treating them for gapeworm, just in case. Hopefully @azygous can weigh in on whether they’d recommend that or not.

I truly hope both these hens make it, but I would go ahead and figure out the process for having a necropsy done if one of them dies. It looks like the University of Missouri will do it. Then you’ll know for sure what’s going on and be able to help the rest of the flock.

Thir coop isn't necessary moist aside from where their feet traffic has been in and out. It's been raining here alot the past week or two. Everythings moist and warm and soggy, and the pollen is crazy right now. Definitely a high possibility of fungi and bacteria and respiratory illnesses. Unless it could be from being in the rain alot (they love the rain.) But they also are at risk for gapeworms because of their environment and how they free range. We have a flock of wild turkey that also forage the same areas as the chickens. Particularly a large area where the cattle are fed. They love going and picking up where the cattle left off, and so does the other wildlife. The chickens sho no other signs of a respiratory infection, but something viral or bacteria seems more likely to present itself suddenly as opposed to worms taking the time to grow.

 

[CoopsNPoops]

If it’s not gapeworm, it could be aspergillosis. Is their coop ever damp? Is it well-ventilated?

If it is aspergillosis, unfortunately there’s no treatment but removing them from the environment with spores can help. Maybe try keeping your two that are showing symptoms inside for a few days to see if they improve? And it might be worth going ahead and treating them for gapeworm, just in case. Hopefully @azygous can weigh in on whether they’d recommend that or not.

I truly hope both these hens make it, but I would go ahead and figure out the process for having a necropsy done if one of them dies. It looks like the University of Missouri will do it. Then you’ll know for sure what’s going on and be able to help the rest of the flock.

If it’s not gapeworm, it could be aspergillosis. Is their coop ever damp? Is it well-ventilated?

If it is aspergillosis, unfortunately there’s no treatment but removing them from the environment with spores can help. Maybe try keeping your two that are showing symptoms inside for a few days to see if they improve? And it might be worth going ahead and treating them for gapeworm, just in case. Hopefully @azygous can weigh in on whether they’d recommend that or not.

I truly hope both these hens make it, but I would go ahead and figure out the process for having a necropsy done if one of them dies. It looks like the University of Missouri will do it. Then you’ll know for sure what’s going on and be able to help the rest of the flock.

The University is 3 and a half hours away. I'm not sure if i could find the time to take her up there. I have 4 kids, my husband works night, its softball season so were slammed with practices and crap every weekend. Id definitely want to know what we're dealing with though. I wander if theres a way i can ship to them? Prolly not huh..