Hen breathing heavy, can't use legs well, seems alert. HELP!!

[theron]

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
Bantam/Standard EE, 4 years old, feels exactly the same; no weight loss
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Laying down; breathing heavily, mouth gaped open, panting
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Just today
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
No
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Not sure; I am pretty sure that she is not egg bound (couldn't feel any.)
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She is eating and drinking. She is alert and looking around.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Save-A-Chick, a little bit of vitamins, a little honey, brought her inside
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Everything possible. She was my very first chicken and she was the start of everything.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will get a picture if it will help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
4X6 coop, pine shavings

 

[un-named543]

Hope someone comes along who can suggest what disease it might be.

 

[theron]

Her panting is getting more bubbly/raspy. Sounds like bulldog when they pant, but more bubbly sounding.

 

[un-named543]

Sounds like a worsening respitory thing going on. Use the search engine to look for respitory issues so you know which antiobiotic to buy if you cannot get her to a vet. Get this ASAP.

 

[chicken grandma]

Hi Theron,
I would agree with unnamed. I would try an antibiotic preferably Amoxicillan or Duraband which is pennicillan based because that would work best on respiratory illness. And I would put a heat lamp on her and keep her inside.

Many of my hens have passed at 5 years old. Don't know when your hen will turn 5 yrs but it just seems to be a common age to lose them naturally to old age. I had one live until she was 7 years but most have passed at 5 years.

God bless! Please keep us posted.

 

[theron]

Surprise, Surprise. She is just fine now!!

She laid an egg that was pretty big, so she could have possibly been eggbound, but the egg might have been stuck where I couldn't feel it. She is running around now and is eating and drinking just fine. Thanks everyone for the help. I really thought she was going to be a goner this morning.

 

[un-named543]