Hen breathing strange

[Elpolloloco88]

https://www.reddit.com/r/chickens/comments/1lpcbi4/hen_breathing_strange

I don't know how to attach the video, so I have linked to a reddit post I made which has the video, I hope that's allowed!

I first noticed 2 days ago that my hen had slightly heavy, laboured breathing, you can see it in the way her whole body moves when she breathes, but her mouth is closed. She shows no other signs of illness, she generally has good energy (given the hot weather), and is eating and drinking fine. My only thought is that we are experiencing a heatwave (30 degrees Celsius in the UK and very humid) and it hasn't rained in a while so perhaps all the dust is causing a respiratory issue?

Im going to call the vet first thing tomorrow, I just checked on her in the coop and she is still breathing like that. How worried should I be? Does anyone have any idea what is going on, and how serious it may be?

https://www.reddit.com/r/chickens/comments/1lpcbi4/hen_breathing_strange

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you give some info on your hen? How old is she? Does she normally lay eggs? Is her crop full, hard puffy, and can you check it first thing in the morning to see if it empties? What do her droppings look like? Is her lower belly under her vent fuller or more enlarged than other hens’ bellies.

 

[Elpolloloco88]

Can you give some info on your hen? How old is she? Does she normally lay eggs? Is her crop full, hard puffy, and can you check it first thing in the morning to see if it empties? What do her droppings look like? Is her lower belly under her vent fuller or more enlarged than other hens’ bellies.

She 4.5 years old and is normally a regular layer but hasn't laid in about a month, she does sometimes go for some time without laying, in times of stress or extreme weather. Her crop last night was a little puffy or like squidgy I think, and this morning it is empty. Her lower belly doesn't feel too dissimilar to the others but I have noticed she's been getting droppings all over her bum lately

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like her crop is functioning if it is empty and flat in the morning. Hens her age may sometimes develop reproductive disorders which can lead to fluid accumulation in the abdomen from liver problems. When hens have an enlarged lower belly from either internal laying (salpingitis,) or water belly (ascites,) droppings may not clear that area and get stuck. It is good to clean them off so that it doesn’t attract flies cause flystrike (a deadly maggot infestation of the vent or skin.) Water belly can cause labored breathing. Draining it, if that is the cause may give some temporary relief.

 

[Elpolloloco88]

It sounds like her crop is functioning if it is empty and flat in the morning. Hens her age may sometimes develop reproductive disorders which can lead to fluid accumulation in the abdomen from liver problems. When hens have an enlarged lower belly from either internal laying (salpingitis,) or water belly (ascites,) droppings may not clear that area and get stuck. It is good to clean them off so that it doesn’t attract flies cause flystrike (a deadly maggot infestation of the vent or skin.) Water belly can cause labored breathing. Draining it, if that is the cause may give some temporary relief.

I took her to the vet today, they said her lungs are definitely raspy but in every other way she was perfectly healthy. Good weight, strong heartbeat, slightly high temp but we are having a heatwave here. They gave her some antibiotics and painkillers. How can I drain the water belly? Is it something I should do regardless for good measure?

I will replace their bedding and give her bum a good clean today. Luckily we had rain today so a lot of the dust on the ground has become mud

 

[Eggcessive]

I do not drain hens with suspected water belly unless they are having labored breathing. But it can be something that can confirm water belly. The lower abdomen should be disinfected and you would use an 18 gauge needle and large syringe from the feed store to drain. If you get fluid and it is yellow to amber, that would confirm water belly. In the link below, there are pictures of a hen being drained in post 66:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/laying-hens-with-water-belly-or-ascites.68731/page-7

 

[Saaniya]

https://www.reddit.com/r/chickens/comments/1lpcbi4/hen_breathing_strange

I don't know how to attach the video, so I have linked to a reddit post I made which has the video, I hope that's allowed!

I first noticed 2 days ago that my hen had slightly heavy, laboured breathing, you can see it in the way her whole body moves when she breathes, but her mouth is closed. She shows no other signs of illness, she generally has good energy (given the hot weather), and is eating and drinking fine. My only thought is that we are experiencing a heatwave (30 degrees Celsius in the UK and very humid) and it hasn't rained in a while so perhaps all the dust is causing a respiratory issue?

Im going to call the vet first thing tomorrow, I just checked on her in the coop and she is still breathing like that. How worried should I be? Does anyone have any idea what is going on, and how serious it may be?

https://www.reddit.com/r/chickens/comments/1lpcbi4/hen_breathing_strange

that tail bob if u concern i feel the same breath pattern in one of my pigeon and if there no other symptoms except this watch over i gave natural herbs like 1 drop ginger mix in lukewarm water to heal the air sac