Hen breathing hard, no wheezing (poop picture added)

[Hen Pen Jem]

That's good that she is pooping solid.

You need to secure the water so she doesn't spill it. Chickens can get a chill from sitting in wet bedding, then secondary infection sets in.

Keep her dry and warm, very important.

 

[arrowti]

I got home from work and let her onto a separate area from the rest of the chickens so she can get some sun, forage, walk around... or just lie down sunning herself in the flowers like she's doing now.

I then found mites. Lots of mites! We dusted her heavily, and now it looks like we'll be dusting the chickens (AGAIN!!) this weekend. The mites have been awful the past two years, even with all their dust baths we get them again and again.

I don't know if mites can cause her symptoms to worsen but hopefully with the poultry dusting that'll take care of one problem.

Now she's enjoying the afternoon sun.

 

[chickendreams24]

Hmm she could be anemic or have a weakened immune system from fighting the mites.

 

[Kiki]

I got home from work and let her onto a separate area from the rest of the chickens so she can get some sun, forage, walk around... or just lie down sunning herself in the flowers like she's doing now.

I then found mites. Lots of mites! We dusted her heavily, and now it looks like we'll be dusting the chickens (AGAIN!!) this weekend. The mites have been awful the past two years, even with all their dust baths we get them again and again.

I don't know if mites can cause her symptoms to worsen but hopefully with the poultry dusting that'll take care of one problem.

Now she's enjoying the afternoon sun.

What are you using to dust them?
You might want to try a permethrin based spray instead.
Spraying a coop is much easier than dusting cracks in a coop.

 

[Kiki]

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

Martin's Horse & Stable Permethrin Spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• flies lice mites permethrin

Permethrin

 

[arrowti]

Oh I'll look into the spray. We use the Prozap Garden and Poultry dust (we've used that for years, works great directly on the hen). I'll see if I can find some when we pick up starter feed and supplies for a future hatch.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Oh no, poor girl...mites, too.

Severe mite infestation of blood sucking mites can even make a chicken sick, if it's a heavy infestation.

Members are reporting increased presence of ticks also, with the sudden warm up in certain areas of the country. Ticks are really bad, they spread terrible diseases to chickens, and even cause anemia. Your state is reporting high tick infestation for 2018. You might want to get a flock of guinea hens, they just love to hunt and eat ticks.

Check the roosts for tiny blood trails. This is from engorged ticks, leaving from their feast.

It's tough being a chicken, but at least your girl is enjoying the sunshine.

Do you feel she is better? Eating, drinking and pooping OK?

 

[arrowti]

I'm strange you mentioned that... I ripped a tick out of my hip just this morning! I'll check their roosts for blood trails and see if I can find anything.

She is eating, drinking, and pooping solid as of now. Her breathing is still hard and one of the chickens was running at her from the other side of the fence. Aside from that, her eyes are clear, no discharge, and no new symptoms.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Have the chickens always been aggressive towards this hen? Sudden changes in chicken behavior, can be an indicator of illness in a flock. Chickens are very perceptive of weakness or illness that can impact the flock. They will try to drive off the sickly or weak.

Here is a good article on ticks affecting poultry.
www.backyardchickens.com/articles/poultry-ticks.48763/

If her face and wattles look pale and not red, and you suspect anemia, which could also cause her to breath heavy, administer a vitamin with iron. Red blood cells carry oxygen, when they are low in numbers, there is less oxygen. I like to use Pet-Tinic, .6 mL with an oral syringe, 5 days for anemia.

Do you still hear gurgling or rattling in the lungs?

It's really good that she is eating, drinking and pooping normally now. But that heavy breathing is concerning.

Perhaps another keeper will recognize these symptoms, and offer some advice.

Hang in there.

God Bless

 

[arrowti]

Prior to this, she was rarely attacked. She seemed to be near the top of the pecking order. Only a few of the hens were going after her. As of now, only one tries to get to her through the fence, while the others don't seem to care.

I'll see if I can find some pet-tinic at the store or feed store tomorrow. In the meantime, I'm giving her scrambled duck eggs which she greatly enjoys.

I listened to her again and while the sound is still there, it is much quieter than before. I can barely hear it. I cannot hear the hitching.