I've become a chicken dad just 3 months ago. I am a keen newbie who has already benefitted from the forum posts here and now want to participate fully

[AliBia]

In my early teens, back in Pakistan, we had chicken, but this time I have built a coop and have eight adults including a rooster and two rescue hens, five - three-month-old Swedish Flower Hen chicks, miraculous three; nearly month-old chicks via incubator, one little Sooty with her mamma Snowy, one of the hens brooding on seven eggs, and another seven eggs due to hatch on the 21st of this month. The adults free range, eat earthworms, snails, slugs, frogs, and even baby mice.

My learning curve has been exponential.

And now I am seeking advice. Three of my hens are producing a mixture of sounds between a hiccup, sneeze, and a cough. I'm at my wit's end seeing them at moments when they gasp. I thought it was gapeworm, and for the last five days, I have been giving them feed mixed with Flubenvet. I also thought it was perhaps bronchitis and administered VetRx as per suggestion. They are eating healthily, even laying almost every day. BUT it's distressing to see them when they cough, shake their heads, and gasp.

Please suggest what can be possibly the cause of this.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could be respiratory illness. Since the OP is in the UK they would need to consult a vet for medications.

Check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight. Work on hydration and keep her eating.

 

[RoyalChick]

I am so sorry I don’t have the experience to help you with this. Hopefully others will. I just wanted to welcome you to BYC and say you have some lovely looking chickens.

 

[FunClucks]

Sorry you're having trouble with your chickens! Welcome to BYC!!!

If you post a video to youtube of what the chickens are doing, then post a link to the video on this thread, members here can take a look and help you out.

 

[AliBia]

Sorry you're having trouble with your chickens! Welcome to BYC!!!

If you post a video to youtube of what the chickens are doing, then post a link to the video on this thread, members here can take a look and help you out.

I will definitely take your advice FC. It's 10.30pm in London England right now. I was keen to join the community and share my ordeal, will certainly film the hens in the morning and share a video link.

 

[AliBia]

Could be respiratory illness. Since the OP is in the UK they would need to consult a vet for medications.

Check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight. Work on hydration and keep her eating.

thanks for getting back WR. i checked her crop this morning, she's super hydrated and is eating fine too. perhaps the flubenvet, recommended by a friend has worked for the moment as she is coughing considerably less frequently. unfortunately i have not been able to find any avian vets around here.

 

[FunClucks]

Cough is right at the beginning of the video. Sounds like a sneeze to me, but I'm not a respiratory illness expert.

@Wyorp Rock @azygous any thoughts on this one?

 

[Ursuline Chick]

Welcome from New Orleans, I hope your thread stays in the front, so perhaps someone with more experience than I have can jump in and help.

 

[DottieGirl]

@DottieGirl Hi, How are things going with your chick? I hope I am not bring up something you would rather not talk about. I hope things are going well and you have gotten some answers.
Have you tried posting the same question and video in the Emergencies/medications/cures sections?

I am unsure, not because the answers were right or wrong, I will need to watch and listen for the next couple of mornings. The cockerels are only crowing in the morning right now, but they all look great and act fine. Thank you for checking.

 

[-Chanticleer-]

My chicken was doing the same thing took about ten days to run its course. It’s nerve wrecking to watch and not be able to help. As long as they are eating and not becoming lethargic you may have to let it run its course. Watched them like a hawk and gave them scrambled eggs when they were being peckish, to atleast have something in the tummy. Also, changed the water out every day. I did end up giving antibiotics on day7 in the waterer for all my chickens (as they started to show signs) it was a broad antibiotic. After 10 days the gasping stopped and after maybe three days the symptoms in the others went away. Sorry I can’t help more. It was believed she has a respiratory infection, from a rescue bird I didn’t quarantine being a newby to chicken raising.