Hen breathing loudly all of the sudden!!

[Allegra17]

I have a small backyard flock, 3 hens. One of my hens all of the sudden started breathing loudly. I took a video to show what it sounds like. She’s acting completely normal but I can’t help but be concerned. Is there anything I can do?

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like she is congested and sneezing. She may have early signs of a respiratory disease, such as infectious bronchitis or a mild strain of mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) How long has this been going on, and are any others doing it? Have you added a new bird to the flock recently? I would watch her, and note if she has any bubbles or foam in one or both eyes, or swelling around an eye. Tylan 50 or Tylosin can be effective against MG symptoms, but not for a virus such as infectious bronchitis.l

 

[Allegra17]

It sounds like she is congested and sneezing. She may have early signs of a respiratory disease, such as infectious bronchitis or a mild strain of mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG.) How long has this been going on, and are any others doing it? Have you added a new bird to the flock recently? I would watch her, and note if she has any bubbles or foam in one or both eyes, or swelling around an eye. Tylan 50 or Tylosin can be effective against MG symptoms, but not for a virus such as infectious bronchitis.l

We just added 2 new hens 2 days ago but they aren’t breathing weirdly. I don’t see anything wrong with her eyes. Should I be giving her medication? I really don’t want to lose her. I’m not sure what Tylan or Tylosin is. Please advise on what I should do. I’m a novice chicken mama.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would suspect that one of the new chickens is a carrier for infectious bronchitis. Tylosin and Tylan are the same antibiotic. It can treat MG, but not IB. Tylan 50 injectable is sometimes found in feed stores along with syringes and needles. It is usually given orally in chickens. Dosage is 0.25 ml per pound given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. Tylosin powder may be obtained online for pigeons or by a vet. Here is where to find Tylosin powder for the water and dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days.
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder

 

[Allegra17]

I would suspect that one of the new chickens is a carrier for infectious bronchitis. Tylosin and Tylan are the same antibiotic. It can treat MG, but not IB. Tylan 50 injectable is sometimes found in feed stores along with syringes and needles. It is usually given orally in chickens. Dosage is 0.25 ml per pound given orally 3 times a day for 5 days. Tylosin powder may be obtained online for pigeons or by a vet. Here is where to find Tylosin powder for the water and dosage is 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days.
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder

is there anyway to know if she has MG or IB?

 

[Eggcessive]

Testing is the best way. Usually MG causes eye bubbles, eyelid swelling, and they may be a bit lethargic. IB is more mild and symptoms are usually sneezing every few minutes and a bit of congestion. IB also spreads through the flock over weeks to months, where MG may only affect one or a few.

 

[Allegra17]

Testing is the best way. Usually MG causes eye bubbles, eyelid swelling, and they may be a bit lethargic. IB is more mild and symptoms are usually sneezing every few minutes and a bit of congestion. IB also spreads through the flock over weeks to months, where MG may only affect one or a few.

thanks for your help. Hopefully it’s curable. I decided to just take her to a vet tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

 

[Allegra17]

Testing is the best way. Usually MG causes eye bubbles, eyelid swelling, and they may be a bit lethargic. IB is more mild and symptoms are usually sneezing every few minutes and a bit of congestion. IB also spreads through the flock over weeks to months, where MG may only affect one or a few.

Sorry, one last question. I just took a photo of her poop. Does this look normal to you? Most of the time her poops are the normal brown with the cap but this just came out of her…

 

[Allegra17]

Just wanted to post an update: she has been laying like normal and laid this morning. She is out and about and her breathing stopped making that sound. I decided not to take her to the emergency vet since she’s not showing any symptoms of anything anymore. Hoping it continues

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear that she is better.