Hen with pale comb, gasping motion (video included)

[NightingaleJen]

My 3.5 year old Welsummer did not come to greet me this morning, but stayed on a perch by herself in the run. She is pale, her head feathers ruffled up, and making these odd gasping motions. Her breathing does not sound labored. I put her into the infirmary crate with food and water (she did eat a little). No droppings yet. I did get a video after checking her for insects. The flock was wormed in October or November, I've not had a chance to look at my records yet.

 

[NightingaleJen]

Anyone? When I dropped off a little mash at noon, she had eaten some of her other food and her color was a bit better. I also put a bit of NutriDrench in her water.

Thanks!

 

[2ndTink]

I'm no expert but I'll try, and hopefully someone who has the answers will pop on.

What is the temperature were you are? Could cold stress be the cause?

Any other symptoms?

At 3.5 years old it's not terribly old but an underlying or new health issue is not impossible. In my experience gasping was related to heart issues, when it got really hot, or really cold, their heart just couldn't function well enough and they would gasp and their comb would turn pale or purple.

 

[2ndTink]

Nutridrench and mash are a good idea no matter what it is.

 

[NightingaleJen]

I'm no expert but I'll try, and hopefully someone who has the answers will pop on.

What is the temperature were you are? Could cold stress be the cause?

Any other symptoms?

At 3.5 years old it's not terribly old but an underlying or new health issue is not impossible. In my experience gasping was related to heart issues, when it got really hot, or really cold, their heart just couldn't function well enough and they would gasp and their comb would turn pale or purple.

Thank you. We have been experiencing very dramatic temperature swings over the past several weeks.

All of this said—after I did the other chicken care things, I popped in with a little more mash with a bit of NutriDrench in it for her (which she may not eat now, since I used it to lure her to the front of the infirmary so I could grab her for another inspection...).

I was busy trying to take another look inside her beak and down her throat, after checking her crop, when I realized her belly felt quite firm, like a water balloon! The poor thing almost certainly has water belly, so we will do what we can for that. Could that be causing the gasping, too?

 

[2ndTink]

Yes! I believe water belly can cause the gasping! I don't have first hand experience with it but I have read some threads on here about it. Ok, do you have needles and sanitizer on hand to do an extraction?

 

[Eggcessive]

I don’t usually drain a hen with water belly, unless they are having labored breathing. I usually let nature take it’s course since the causes are always eventually fatal. But you could disinfect her lower belly and insert an 18 gauge needle into her abdominal cavity, and try to withdraw some fluid to see if you get any of the yellow fluid, and to see if it relieves her. If you don’t get fluid or it does not help, gasping can also be a symptom of a respiratory virus or disease.

 

[2ndTink]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...f-some-help-and-guidance.853726/post-12770501

Here is a link to a post with some pictures of draining a hen.

I was just going to add that draining isn't a cure, it is just a relief of pressure from the fluid build up. You aren't correcting the root cause and those root causes from what I've read are not things that lend themselves well to a long remaining life. As @Eggcessive said, they usually are fatal. But, you can provide some comfort for her while you still have her whether you choose to drain her or not. Some mash and special attention are (almost) never a bad thing!

Give her some extra loves for me

 

[NightingaleJen]

I don’t usually drain a hen with water belly, unless they are having labored breathing. I usually let nature take it’s course since the causes are always eventually fatal. But you could disinfect her lower belly and insert an 18 gauge needle into her abdominal cavity, and try to withdraw some fluid to see if you get any of the yellow fluid, and to see if it relieves her. If you don’t get fluid or it does not help, gasping can also be a symptom of a respiratory virus or disease.

Yes, the breathing is what concerns me. I'm actually going back and forth on getting some Tylosin, too, though I do have enrofloxacin (I never ever spell that right...) on hand.

We have done this with a hen before; maybe three times for an Easter Egger who lived for nearly a year after she began to exhibit ascites. I know it's just prolonging the inevitable. :/ My birds give me a lot of joy and laughter as well as eggs, so my goal is always to do my best by them!

This little lady is still alert and even complained (can any hen glare the way a Welsummer can?) that I wasn't letting her free-range when I let the rest of the flock out, so...I am willing to help give her however much more time God has for her.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...f-some-help-and-guidance.853726/post-12770501

Here is a link to a post with some pictures of draining a hen.

I was just going to add that draining isn't a cure, it is just a relief of pressure from the fluid build up. You aren't correcting the root cause and those root causes from what I've read are not things that lend themselves well to a long remaining life. As @Eggcessive said, they usually are fatal. But, you can provide some comfort for her while you still have her whether you choose to drain her or not. Some mash and special attention are (almost) never a bad thing!

Give her some extra loves for me

Thanks, I was just reviewing that thread, too! My hope is she bounces back for a bit.

 

[2ndTink]

Yes, the breathing is what concerns me. I'm actually going back and forth on getting some Tylosin, too, though I do have enrofloxacin (I never ever spell that right...) on hand.

We have done this with a hen before; maybe three times for an Easter Egger who lived for nearly a year after she began to exhibit ascites. I know it's just prolonging the inevitable. :/ My birds give me a lot of joy and laughter as well as eggs, so my goal is always to do my best by them!

This little lady is still alert and even complained (can any hen glare the way a Welsummer can?) that I wasn't letting her free-range when I let the rest of the flock out, so...I am willing to help give her however much more time God has for her.



Thanks, I was just reviewing that thread, too! My hope is she bounces back for a bit.

I hope she bounces back for whatever precious days she has remaining with you, few or many. They sure do become much more that "just egg layers" they are definitely beloved pets.