Hen gasping for breathe, possibly dying

[Anon112]

I woek up this morning and she was gone. Even worse my favorite hen is wheezing now. She is still active but every breath she is wheezing and she is sneezing. Another hen is sneezing, and another is hunched up...
It feels like it is a respiratory disease and is spreading fast. I'm terrified I have bird flu.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Like others have mentioned, a necropsy would be a really good idea if you can get one done.

 

[wrenhen]

Kind of interesting update, I gave my wheezing hen some leftover clavomox I had and this morning she wasnt wheezing anymore... I gave her another dose today and the other sick hens what I had left. Going to try and get more and see if this helps all of them and stops it. I have the first body in the freezer to send off.

 

[Barnette]

I'm sorry for your loss. You did your best to help her. I'm sure she had a wonderful life with you

 

[Eggcessive]

Don’t freeze a body that you want to have a necropsy. It should be refrigerated or kept cold on ice in a cooler, but not frozen. The sooner the body gets to them the less the tissues break down.

 

[wrenhen]

Don’t freeze a body that you want to have a necropsy. It should be refrigerated or kept cold on ice in a cooler, but not frozen. The sooner the body gets to them the less the tissues break down.

Ah, good to know. Probably too late now… I called the testing center and didn’t think to ask if freezing vs fridge was ok. If another bird dies I’ll have a cooler ready to send it. I may get the live birds tested, I have a vet appointment tomorrow since I was panicking trying to save the favorite hen.

 

[Eggcessive]

You should call them today and ask them if freezing it made it unable to do the necropsy.

 

[wrenhen]

You should call them today and ask them if freezing it made it unable to do the necropsy.

Called and they said it isnt ideal but still doable, they said to just keep it frozen for a day or two and if no new bodies show up I can just send the frozen one. But you're right fresh/cold not frozen would work better for them

 

[2 Acres]

I woek up this morning and she was gone. Even worse my favorite hen is wheezing now. She is still active but every breath she is wheezing and she is sneezing. Another hen is sneezing, and another is hunched up...
It feels like it is a respiratory disease and is spreading fast. I'm terrified I have bird flu.

I hate to say this, but it sounds like the birds may have H5N1. Do you have any migratory birds in the area??? The symptoms all fit.

If it's not too late(hopefully), go to your local supermarket and buy some decaffeinated green tea. Put 4 bags in a teakettle and fill it.

Bring the tea to a boil, and let it cool enough so it won't scald the chickens throat. Test the hotness on your hand. You can cool it down with cold water if needed. Use an eye dropper and make sure she doesn't choke while administering the tea mix. Stay calm so the chicken does too. The tea mix will probably be strong, but that is a good thing.... and the heat should help too.

Yes... this is a "hail Mary" attempt. Keep monitoring the chicken. You might not be able to help this bird, but you might be able to save the others with the same issues.

 

[2 Acres]

I hate to say this, but it sounds like the birds may have H5N1. Do you have any migratory birds in the area??? The symptoms all fit.

If it's not too late(hopefully), go to your local supermarket and buy some decaffeinated green tea. Put 4 bags in a teakettle and fill it.

Bring the tea to a boil, and let it cool enough so it won't scald the chickens throat. Test the hotness on your hand. You can cool it down with cold water if needed. Use an eye dropper and make sure she doesn't choke while administering the tea mix. Stay calm so the chicken does too. The tea mix will probably be strong, but that is a good thing.... and the heat should help too.

Yes... this is a "hail Mary" attempt. Keep monitoring the chicken. You might not be able to help this bird, but you might be able to save the others with the same issues.

I am currently testing a theory, after doing research on the effects of Green tea killing off the H5N1 virus in chickens.

 

[2 Acres]

I am currently testing a theory, after doing research on the effects of Green tea killing off the H5N1 virus in chickens.

Your chickens may have just caused you to be a Guinea pig. If nothing else, the warm tea water may help.