Is She Really Sick?

[Suskm]

Dear Folks,

I pulled on of my Red Sexlinks hens out of the flock last week because she was wheezing and snicketing just a little bit. I have been feeding her garlic, parsley, oregano and thyme along with her feed every day for the last ten days. She hasn't had any more sneeziness except for that first day I noticed. She's never had any mucusy or bubbly nose or swollen eyes. She eats completely normally, poops normally, scratches and dusts normally and has given me 8 eggs since I incarcerated her! She still wheezes though but not notably so and only it when I pick her up. Otherwise I don't see this sypmtom at all. Have any of you ever experienced this with your chickens? Is this girl really sick? I'm confounded honestly...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Dear Folks,

I pulled on of my Red Sexlinks hens out of the flock last week because she was wheezing and snicketing just a little bit. I have been feeding her garlic, parsley, oregano and thyme along with her feed every day for the last ten days. She hasn't had any more sneeziness except for that first day I noticed. She's never had any mucusy or bubbly nose or swollen eyes. She eats completely normally, poops normally, scratches and dusts normally and has given me 8 eggs since I incarcerated her! She still wheezes though but not notably so and only it when I pick her up. Otherwise I don't see this sypmtom at all. Have any of you ever experienced this with your chickens? Is this girl really sick? I'm confounded honestly...

It's so hard to know what's going on, especially when there are no other symptoms like runny nose/watery eyes, etc.

She may have aspirated some food/water, this can cause the sneezing then later on some wheezing, especially when being held it may be pressing the air sacs. Is her crop emptying ok?

Without some vet care and/or testing there's no way to know the cause. You may want to try something like VetRx to see if it makes a difference.

What you are doing right now as far as care sounds very good, I would keep that up and see how it goes. It's not to say that she doesn't have a contagious respiratory illness, but usually you would see other symptoms. If she seems pretty good to go, then personally I would start the integration process and let her go back to the flock.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Suskm]

Yes her crop is emptying normally as well.... She's lonely too! You should hear her calling to her flock mates (None of whom are symptomatic). It's pitiful!

Thanks for your input Wyorp Rock! I'm originally from NC.