Hen has sounds of gurgling and raspy breath, help.

jodybrook

Chirping
Apr 29, 2017
56
14
66
I have acquired a hen from a local farmer. She is about 2 years old and came to me looking a little dirty but her vent was clean and she didn't have any nasal discharge two days ago. Today, and she is still in quarentine, started raspy breathing. She was fine other than this. Walked around in the run, ate, drank and seems very active. I administered some vitamins/electrolytes because it's all I had on hand and our feed store is not open until tomorrow. She definitely perked up and is no longer breathing this way anymore. I observed her tonight for almost an hour and she wasn't mouth breathing at all and there are no sounds coming from her breathing at all. SO STRANGE. Could it be Vit A deficiency? I do hope so, I would HATE to cull her. Notice in the pic she has some dried mud boogies near her nose...but no discharge anymore. You can check out this YouTube video of 5 seconds of her making this noise.
 

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I see she has laid an egg, that's a good sign... for now. I wouldn't eat it, but you might crack it open and inspect.
How recently did you get her? If it was this weeks, I would contact the farmer who sold it to you. Try to be polite, and you might get some information of recent illness.
Quarantine and feed & water access may be the best you can do. Good job on those electrolytes, it may help her immune system.
 
I see she has laid an egg, that's a good sign... for now. I wouldn't eat it, but you might crack it open and inspect.
How recently did you get her? If it was this weeks, I would contact the farmer who sold it to you. Try to be polite, and you might get some information of recent illness.
Quarantine and feed & water access may be the best you can do. Good job on those electrolytes, it may help her immune system.

I cracked open the egg. Pics attached. Lighter but not too light yolk. A little watery and slightly cloudy eggwhite, but it is currently 100 degrees outside here in South Texas and the egg is fresh. The shell wasn't as thick as my girls normal eggs so she needs more calcium which she will get from the layer feed. I've also upped her protein and am alternating apple cider vinegar in her water with the electrolytes and vitamins. She is still sneezing every once in a while but I haven't heard the hard gurgling like first day since then. I ordered some VetRX that will be in soon. Hoping that clears her up.
 

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Well, that's good. I would say that she is in the best of care. I still haven't a clue what she has, but you don't always know. Chickens are pretty tough, though.
I had a rooster with some kind of paralysis one time. He wouldn't even crow. I just kept him in a cage in the house and he pulled through in three days.
Sometimes all you can do is care for them and hope for the best.
 

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