Inconsistent wheezing no other symptons

[hale moa]

my 1 1/2 year old hen ruthie has been puzzling me. she started a LOUD wheezing, i could hear from 50 feet away, throughout the day her breathing got progressively worse. i was afraid to let her go in the roast that night but in she went and the next morning she was fine.... 2 days later i woke up to find her wheezing, extremely labored breathing, mouth open gaping. i gave her some olive oil because i could pick her up finially she couldnt run away, and went off to temple, fully expecting to come home and bury her. 3 hours later, yep there she was all flopped over i went to get a towel and shovel and when i went to pick her up she ran off, perfectly fine, no wheezing what so ever. that was sunday. no other symptoms. today is wednesday i just went out to check and could hear the wheezing again long before i could see her. she is running around with all the girls, but taking deep breathes but otherwise acting normal..... no nasal discharges, no bubbly eyes, no other symptoms.... i am stumped??? any ideas anyone?? thanks linnette

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

My vote is asthma, or allergies. I've never seen it in a chicken, but have seen it alot in other birds. (I'm a vet tech at an emergency clinic)...take her to an avian vet (they may even want to keep her for a full day or so to see if they can observe an "attack") - asthma in birds isn't the same as in other animals due to the whole lungs vs. airsack thing, but it is still airway constriction...

Also, I'd pay close attention to her surroundings during these episodes - see if there is any spraying going on, or if your neighbors are using something "stinky" for yard pests...even sprayers at a distance can affect the breathing of a super-sensitive bird.

Good luck!

 

[BeccaOH]

I've got a Dominique that started something similar around 14 months old. She had a pasty bottom and sneezy/wheezy noises. I brought her into the garage for almost a week. I treated her for impacted crop, though there wasn't much of a knot in her neck. I gave her a couple doses of VetRX. She kept laying eggs consistently and was always clambering to get out of the crate I had her in. I was prepared to cull her, but she never got runny nose or eyes or any infection smell. I finally put her back with the main flock, and she is as energetic as the others. Occasionally I still hear her sneeze/cough. No other chicken has shown any similar issue -- and her quarantine was back around Easter. She still has me rather baffled.

 

[hale moa]

you know i think you got it... i live on a volcano and we have been having terrible VOG (like fog, only sulfur fumes from the volcano). people with respiratory problems are warned to stay away... i bet that is getting to her because she is laying eggs, eating, everything else is normal.. and yes, it was voggy this morning.. this group is the best... i will stop chasing her around and making it worse.. all my other hens come sit on my lap but not ruthie....

 

[BeccaOH]

I read something last night that made me think about worms. I guess there is a worm that can effect the chicken's throat. I'm thinking of treating mine for worms.

It's just something you might consider if she doesn't improve when the VOG clears.

 

[hale moa]

yes, i had heard about gape worms or something like that that get in the lungs, but it would seem then it wouldnt be so intermittent?? i wormed them once last year but i havent seen any signs of worms. they free range all day though. now today she is fine, running around like normal, no wheezing, laid an egg, seems just fine. leave it to me to have an asthmatic chicken of all things!! doesnt seem to affect my ducks or any one else...