Hello BYC keepers. My question is whether I should attempt a visit to the vet for my hen Caramel, which is an 1h45 drive, and Caramel being a very nervous hen, or if it will just make things worse.
Caramel is 33 months old. In May she was very sick, probably from worm overload since she healed when we dewormed her with Flubendazole.
I noticed a few days ago that her cheek (not sure if this is the right word for a hen, between her nose and her eyes) was rising and falling as if she had trouble breathing. I didn't make anything of it as she acted completely normally.
Yesterday morning the hens were all in stress. Caramel went in the nest box which she does every morning , though she hasn't laid since she was ill in May. An hour after, I check on her and she is still inside, panting with her mouth open. Thinking she may be hot I give her some water which she throws herself on. Very bad idea- the waters seems to go the wrong way in. She nearly seemed to aspirate, and was in respiratory distress for ten minutes until she threw up a bit of water. I believe she was panting because she wasn't getting enough air. It looks as if something is stuck, maybe in her trachea.
The problem is she has been extremely skittish with us since we dewormed her with a syringe in May. I can't possibly keep hold of her for more than thirty seconds, even in the dark without having her struggling to escape, so I can't look inside her throat.
I gave her after this episode a very small piece of coconut oil, not sure it made any difference. In the evening she seemed slightly better and could breathe with her mouth closed.
However she wasn't doing better today, as long as she doesn't eat or drink she can breath with her mouth closed, but as soon as she swallows something she seems to be in distress. I did touch her crop and her trachea and couldn't feel anything, so maybe it's not in fact something physically stuck but a sign of infection.
She makes stranges noises not like wheezing, rather like something claps in her throat.
My partner would drive us to the vet clinic on monday morning. Not only is it a 1 hour 45 ride, but they don't take appointment for emergencies so she would have to wait at the vet. It would likely take much of the day. It's an excellent clinic from what I've heard, and they have avian vets and all the necessary equipment for analysis.
I'm hesitant because I'm afraid the ride and the wait there may be too much for her. But I just lost a hen on Thursday that was eggbound and I feel like I'm not ready to watch another chicken die without doing anything.
I'd appreciate any advice, also eventually about making the ride less stressful for her, and thank you very much for taking the time to read this long post.
Caramel is 33 months old. In May she was very sick, probably from worm overload since she healed when we dewormed her with Flubendazole.
I noticed a few days ago that her cheek (not sure if this is the right word for a hen, between her nose and her eyes) was rising and falling as if she had trouble breathing. I didn't make anything of it as she acted completely normally.
Yesterday morning the hens were all in stress. Caramel went in the nest box which she does every morning , though she hasn't laid since she was ill in May. An hour after, I check on her and she is still inside, panting with her mouth open. Thinking she may be hot I give her some water which she throws herself on. Very bad idea- the waters seems to go the wrong way in. She nearly seemed to aspirate, and was in respiratory distress for ten minutes until she threw up a bit of water. I believe she was panting because she wasn't getting enough air. It looks as if something is stuck, maybe in her trachea.
The problem is she has been extremely skittish with us since we dewormed her with a syringe in May. I can't possibly keep hold of her for more than thirty seconds, even in the dark without having her struggling to escape, so I can't look inside her throat.
I gave her after this episode a very small piece of coconut oil, not sure it made any difference. In the evening she seemed slightly better and could breathe with her mouth closed.
However she wasn't doing better today, as long as she doesn't eat or drink she can breath with her mouth closed, but as soon as she swallows something she seems to be in distress. I did touch her crop and her trachea and couldn't feel anything, so maybe it's not in fact something physically stuck but a sign of infection.
She makes stranges noises not like wheezing, rather like something claps in her throat.
My partner would drive us to the vet clinic on monday morning. Not only is it a 1 hour 45 ride, but they don't take appointment for emergencies so she would have to wait at the vet. It would likely take much of the day. It's an excellent clinic from what I've heard, and they have avian vets and all the necessary equipment for analysis.
I'm hesitant because I'm afraid the ride and the wait there may be too much for her. But I just lost a hen on Thursday that was eggbound and I feel like I'm not ready to watch another chicken die without doing anything.
I'd appreciate any advice, also eventually about making the ride less stressful for her, and thank you very much for taking the time to read this long post.
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Best wishes for a positive outcome.
