Is our hen choking on something? Crazy noise from her constantly!

[OvermediumPNW]

Our approx 20 week welsummer hen has been making a hideous noise for a few weeks. Recently, it was accompanied by gurgling noises when she breathes so we treated that with Tylan50 injections. The gurgling seems to have stopped but the noise hasn’t. It’s like a combination cough/sneeze accompanied by a strong jerk of her neck and lasts a few seconds. Could it be something stuck in her throat? She’s less active than the other hens and keeps herself all puffed up and her neck pulled in. I have video but I need to figure out how to post it.

Thanks in advance - she’s making us crazy!!

 

[coach723]

You can post a video on another host, like youtube, and put the link here.

 

[OvermediumPNW]

Here is a video:

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

That poor thing! It looks and sounds like something my be stuck in her crop......I am by no means comfortable with giving any advice about this, but I will reach out to others who may.....
@KikisGirls @aart @Eggcessive

 

[Eggcessive]

It appears to be coughing or sneezing, probably from a respiratory disease. She has what is termed “pump handle respirations” which may be seen in some diseases such as ILT, but it also can be seen in some others. The most common diseases are infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG,) coryza, and infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT.) Tylan can treat symptoms of MG, but since most diseases are chronic, symptoms can last weeks or months, and can come back later. Viruses have to run their course. Coryza stinks and thick nasal mucus and puss in eyes from sinus infection are common. It is usually treated with sulf antibiotics from a vet.

Have you seen any bloody mucus from her beak, or have any other birds had signs of illness? You might want to contact your local poultry extension agent or state vet to ask where to get testing, to see what you are dealing with. Where are you located? Here is a handy list of common diseases and symptoms, including the ones above:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is another link for contacting your state vet or poultry lab:
http://www.metzerfarms.com/PoultryLabs.cfm

 

[OvermediumPNW]

The Tylan seems to have stopped the rattling when she breathes. She was definitely doing that a week or so ago and that is when we decided to go the Tylan route. There were a few times the we saw her toss some mucus when she shook doing her cough/sneeze thing but that seems to have cleared up. We had some Albon (sulfadimethoxine) suspension that we started her on a couple days ago. Not sure if that is any use or not but figured it wouldn't hurt. Haven't noticed anything wrong with her eyes or nasal drainage lately. She did have a runny nose several weeks ago that appears to have dried up. One other hen has a little rattling when she breathes but seems otherwise in good health. We had to put a rooster down yesterday from what appeared as Mereks. He was unable to stand or walk and got to the point of not being able to eat or drink.

We are north of Seattle. I'll look through the list to find the closest poultry lab.

Thanks for the great info!

 

[Eggcessive]

Oh, sorry about losing your rooster, and especially if it was Mareks. That is best diagnosed with a necropsy, also through the state vet.

How much Tylan 50 were you giving? Dosage for chickens is 0.2 ml per pound 3 times a day, or if you cannot manage that often, 0.3 ml per pound twice a day. Many give it orally without the needle of course.

 

[OvermediumPNW]

We injected into the breast muscle .5 ml of Tylan50 twice a day for three days. Lots of conflicting information about how much, how often, and how long to give it but logistically we could only go 3 days. She's probably a little underweight so we're thinking about 1 kg.

We aren't positive it was Mareks, but are pretty sure. He was around the same age - 20 weeks - and the decline had been long and gradual. Our concern now is if the entire flock has now been exposed and we are going to lose them all to either of these diseases.

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds like a decent dosage for a small bird.