Mimi is Wheezing

[Monika S]

So today when I was feeding my girls, my 9 year old hen comes up to me and looks at me funny (she normally goes for the food right away) and then I hear her wheezing. I picked her up and she snuggled right away. I can tell she's not feeling well. I have been massaging her throat and tried to give her some water, but she's not taking it. It's 8F here at the moment. She's never been sick. She had bumble food that she recovered from, but she's getting old and this is scaring me. Any suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would check to make sure her crop is empty in the morning.
Does she still lay eggs? Any bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen below the vent between her legs?

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she gasping as well? Or sneezing? Does she sound anything like this silkie who is having stridor:

 

[Monika S]

I would check to make sure her crop is empty in the morning.
Does she still lay eggs? Any bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen below the vent between her legs?

I got her to eat and drink and the wheezing stopped for just a little bit, but came back. Her eyes are clear, no drainage, just gasping. A friend thinks it may be gapeworm. No other girls show symptoms of any kind. She hasn't laid eggs in a while, like not at all this season. I have her in the house by herself for now. I'm wanting to get something for her tomorrow. Looked at the local Farm and Fleet and couldn't find Flubenol or Aviverm which a website suggested for gapeworm. I'm also going to buy VetRx just in case it's not Gapeworm. Is there anything else i could use for Gapeworm? Farm and Fleet carries Zy-fend. Would that help for Gapeworm as well?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Where are you in the world?
Gapeworm is fairly rare in the U.S.

At 9 years of age, I would be looking at reproductive issues, crop symptoms, etc.

VetRx is not going to treat Gapeworm. Zy-Fend will not treat Gapeworm.

If you are in the US, then you can use Fenbendazole (Safeguard, goat dewormer or equine paste) or Albendazole (Valbazen). Either of these will treat most worms that poultry have, including Gapeworm.

If you have a video of her and her poop that may be helpful - upload video to youtube and provide a link.

 

[Monika S]

The video of her breathing.
Poop looks normal and semi-firm
My Farm and Fleet carries safeguard paste How much would I feed to a chicken? https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...rd-fenbendazole-10-equine-paste-dewormer.html.
Oh and I am in Wisconsin US. I have read articles about Gapeworm here in WI in fowl.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The video of her breathing.
Poop looks normal and semi-firm
My Farm and Fleet carries safeguard paste How much would I feed to a chicken? https://www.farmandfleet.com/produc...rd-fenbendazole-10-equine-paste-dewormer.html.
Oh and I am in Wisconsin US. I have read articles about Gapeworm here in WI in fowl.

Sounds like respiratory illness, but I would still make sure her crop is emptying and that she's doesn't have bloat or fluid in the abdomen.
You can try treating with an antibiotic like Tylan/Tylosin to see if that makes a difference if you find that she's not got a crop issue or fluid in the abdomen.
You might be able to get Tylan50 or 200 at the feed store, otherwise, you can order online.

A bird that has Gapeworm is in a constant state of distress Gaping and Gasping, panting and cannot eat or drink.
In case you decide you do want to deworm her, Fenbendazole dose is 0.23ml per pound of weight given orally once a day for 5 days.