Hen with acute respiratory distress—help please!

[HorseGirlAbby]

Hi everybody,
My five year old Wyandotte hen keeps coughing. She’s been doing this off and on for the past few days, but I didn’t think much of it, because she was acting fine otherwise. She’s struggling to breathe, and every minute or so produces a strangled sounding cough/sneeze. I’ll attach a couple videos of it. I haven’t introduced any new birds in the past few months, did just change their shavings a week ago, but this problem was before that. I’m sitting out with her as I write this, and even in the few minutes it’s taken to type, she’s already calmed down considerably. Here are the videos:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/img_0198-mov.7953376/
https://www.backyardchickens.com/gallery/img_0199-mov.7953377/
I’m not gonna tag anyone at first, but if no one replies, I’ll call in the experts in a few hours.

 

[azygous]

Her color is good, so if this is a respiratory disorder, it's upper, not pulmonary. It may have other causes. Have you looked deep into her throat with a flash light to see if you see worms? Is her mouth and throat pink and clean or do you see white or yellow scum in there?

Have you checked her for a crop disorder? Very often, what sounds like a respiratory issue is a crop full of liquid backing up into the esophagus and airway. Before she eats and drinks in the morning, see if her crop is flat and empty. If it's full of liquid a crop issue may be cause her respiratory woes.

 

[Cascadia]

Yes, I would check the throat for any obstructions potentially making it hard to breath. I have seen other people struggle with this and the only way to get an obstruction out is through using a small spoon or something.

Or it could be a disease, but I am not sure. Hopefully, this helps!

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Thank you for your reply. I haven’t checked for worms, I didn’t even think of that. She probably would not stand me messing around in her mouth, even the little bit I did made her squirm around a lot. But I’ll try tomorrow, they’re in bed now. She got up on the roost all right, and was talking to me normally. Her mouth and throat are a normal pink color, and I got a good look since she was opening it so wide. No discharge or anything.

She’s just laid an egg, and probably eaten quite a bit of food, so her crop could have been causing her trouble. It felt normal, just squishy, and not entirely full. I’ll definitely check it in the morning before they’ve gotten up.

Another note: in the past, when she’s done this, it was right after she ate a bunch of food. She’d eat some pellets, and then do the weird cough/sneeze thing, and then be totally fine.

I sure hope it isn’t an obstruction, I don’t know how long she’d survive with that. And I don’t think I’m qualified to go sticking stuff down her throat…

 

[azygous]

It sounds like she has an eating habit that may cause this. For now, I suggest just watching and making note when she eats and if the symptoms quickly follow, establishing a pattern. Note also how long it takes the symptom to stop after they started.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

It sounds like she has an eating habit that may cause this. For now, I suggest just watching and making note when she eats and if the symptoms quickly follow, establishing a pattern. Note also how long it takes the symptom to stop after they started.

Her crop’s totally empty this morning, and she’s talking and following me around as usual. I saw her eat, and she ate normally, and didn’t do the coughing thing. She didn’t eat very much though, she was more interested in pecking me. Thanks for your help, and I’ll keep an eye on her.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Well, it’s been a couple weeks, and she’s no better. In fact, she may be a bit worse. She’s still acting normal, eating, drinking, laying eggs, etc., but her symptoms have gotten worse. I can’t figure out any trigger except maybe strenuous activity, like laying an egg, running around, or getting mated by the rooster. Her symptoms start around midafternoon, usually, but can any time of the day. Today, she started “coughing” around midafternoon, and continued for a couple hours, at least. Not constantly, but during the worst parts, she “coughed” every ten seconds or so. The neighbor even noticed that there was a weird noise coming from the chicken house. And my dad is getting really bothered by it, because he can hear her from inside the shop. I have no idea what I can do, or even if there’s anything I can do. Obviously, even if she’s not in pain, she’s very uncomfortable, and that’s no way to live Poor girl.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

@azygous

 

[azygous]

Respiratory issues would normally be transient, flaring up under stress and then disappearing. When it persists, then we go to the antibiotic Tylosin to address secondary bacterial infection. Sounds like it's time to get her medicated.

Washington may make it difficult to obtain this antibiotic, but ask at your feed store, and then call a vet if the state requires a prescription.

You can use Tylosin soluble powder in her drinking water or Tylan 50 which you would give as an individual dose orally.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

Respiratory issues would normally be transient, flaring up under stress and then disappearing. When it persists, then we go to the antibiotic Tylosin to address secondary bacterial infection. Sounds like it's time to get her medicated.

Washington may make it difficult to obtain this antibiotic, but ask at your feed store, and then call a vet if the state requires a prescription.

You can use Tylosin soluble powder in her drinking water or Tylan 50 which you would give as an individual dose orally.

Ok, I'll look into that. Up until yesterday, I thought she was getting better, but this morning she's getting worse again. It's so bad that I took her out of the house, hopefully to get her away from whatever's causing it. Do you think it's MG? I have a hen who's had watery eyes for a long time, but never thought anything of it.