Hen with chronic rales/ratteling acts normal in every way

[kattitude45]

I have a hen in her 2nd or 3rd laying season. She was given to me last fall ( almost 10 months ago). She's a little red oliver egger. She lays ALMOST EVERYDAY without fail. She rattels ... a LOT... sometimes she'll do it for a week or more. I isolate her and the rales go away... or the don't. But she has no other symptoms. She will lay rough textured eggs, but just slightly on one end. Sometimes the color will lighten for a few weeks and then goes back to a dark olive. She always has a poopy butt, and sometimes runny poo, it's never been different. NONE of my other 10 hens or roo act sick or have ever acted sick. She will sneeze on occasion. Should I cull her? I do not want a problem. It's now at least the 3rd time I've isolated her in 9 months. I've never had to cull one but I will if it's a chronic thing that will sicken my other chiken.

 

[Stiggy]

I'd advise talking to a vet or to a chicken guru. Also I'd worm everyone as worms can lead to internal damage and signs can be 'poopy butts'. I cant say if its contagious or not but I can suggest that you check her nose and strange to say sniff it. if its goopy and smells then she has a sinus infection which can make them sneeze as well as rattle if it gets to their lungs. However if none of the others have this then it is likely that it is not contagious to the others. Some times chickens get sick when they are young and when they recover they do make that funny rattling noise, we had one that we got from a battery hen farm ( as a rescue chicken) she lived a good life with no problems but she always made a funny noise like a heavy smoker would and she rattled a bit, while we don't know what she had, it never seemed to affect her and it wasn't contagious so we and the vet assumed that she had had some form of infection like pneumonia when younger that had left scar tissue which produced the sounds. I wouldn't worry about the eggs, chickens do that sometimes when feed has changed or they get to much or to little calcium ( eg if you've given them grit and they've eaten to much) it shouldn't be harmful and should sort itself out.

 

[kattitude45]

She's never had any nasal or eye drainage. It's really strange.

 

[kattitude45]

Anymore suggestions?

 

[Stiggy]

Um, assuming that she's healthy otherwise just keep an eye on it. I could be completely wrong but my guess is that she had something when young that left scar tissue , if this is the case then she maybe more susceptible to other illnesses, especially ones that involve/compromise the lungs ( eg pneumonia, colds etc)

 

[millivanilli]

I have one like that too. I don't know why. She stopped laying altogether now. I used some VetRX on her and she stopped with the sound effects, then did it for one day and stopped again. No clue. She's a 3 y.o. RI red I inherited from someone who didn't want them anymore b/c they weren't up to production standards :-(

 

[Stiggy]

That's sad when people suddenly don't want them anymore, clearly they arn't considered pets to some people, only things that can be replaced easily. Ive found that rescue chickens tend to sometimes have health issues like that because they are in such close quarters as all the others which is stressful.

 

[kattitude45]

I found her a good home, she's getting delivered today with us hatching babies, I'd rather not take a chance, but she'll be a pet now.

 

[ranger7]

If you would like very healthy chickens try some Oil of Oregano in their water. This is an awesome product. Oil of Oregano is anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-bacteria and anti-fungal. I had a cold that came thru some of my chickens this past winter. Tried every antibiotic. Just when I thought it was gone here it was again in another hen. Antibiotics have a withdrawal. Oil of Oregano does not. My hens are doing awesome. Laying like crazy. Their feathers are beautiful. No more cold. No worms. No illness at all. I gave them 6cc per gallon of water for three weeks and then 3 cc per gallon from then on. They love it. Great product. Research it online. It is made in The Neverlands. I also have their product made for horses too. Horses hooves are so strong. A natural wormer and anti-fungal. Also pathagens have no resistance to Oil of Oregano. That's why my chickens got better so quickly. Check it out. I can give anyone the info as to where to purchase this product in the US.

 

[cornishlady]

If you would like very healthy chickens try some Oil of Oregano in their water. This is an awesome product. Oil of Oregano is anti-parasitic, anti-viral, anti-bacteria and anti-fungal. I had a cold that came thru some of my chickens this past winter. Tried every antibiotic. Just when I thought it was gone here it was again in another hen. Antibiotics have a withdrawal. Oil of Oregano does not. My hens are doing awesome. Laying like crazy. Their feathers are beautiful. No more cold. No worms. No illness at all. I gave them 6cc per gallon of water for three weeks and then 3 cc per gallon from then on. They love it. Great product. Research it online. It is made in The Neverlands. I also have their product made for horses too. Horses hooves are so strong. A natural wormer and anti-fungal. Also pathagens have no resistance to Oil of Oregano. That's why my chickens got better so quickly. Check it out. I can give anyone the info as to where to purchase this product in the US.

YES! I’ve used oregano oil on other pets as well and it works miracles!