My hen has crackles whilst breathing in and out.

[Arf]

Brand new chicken mom to two 16 week old hens. Got them 6 days ago. 2 days ago, one girl started sneezing. Now she's got loud crackles when breathing in or out. She's eating and drinking, acting normal and laying (I think.) No discharge from eyes or mouth. Started nutridrench in water today. Wondering if there's anything else I can do?

 

[Kiki]

Where did you buy the birds from?
Sounds like they may have came with the respiratory disease. Nutri-Drench won't help a respiratory disease. Antibiotics will help the symptoms but won't cure one.

Is a vet an option?

 

[Arf]

Where did you buy the birds from?
Sounds like they may have came with the respiratory disease. Nutri-Drench won't help a respiratory disease. Antibiotics will help the symptoms but won't cure one.

Is a vet an option?

Any way to differentiate between viral and bacterial in chickens? No sense with abx, if it's viral. I can look into area vets tomorrow though... have to drive out of county for my bunny, so here's hoping... Would you reach out to seller?

 

[Kiki]

Any way to differentiate between viral and bacterial in chickens? No sense with abx, if it's viral. I can look into area vets tomorrow though... have to drive out of county for my bunny, so here's hoping... Would you reach out to seller?

Testing can be done to differentiate.
Are you in the US?
Each state has a state lab that can guide you on how to collect a swab for testing.

I would guess that most people know when they're selling birds with diseases...and just don't care. It may not be a disease though. If your bird continues to decline then it most likely is.

 

[Arf]

In MD... Any idea what to Google? Chicken lab?? Gah... Just worried about my girl, plus the other one out there with her!! They came from the same place, sleeping in same coop... Not how I was hoping to spend my first week as a chicken mom...

 

[Arf]

In MD... Any idea what to Google? Chicken lab?? Gah... Just worried about my girl, plus the other one out there with her!! They came from the same place, sleeping in same coop... Not how I was hoping to spend my first week as a chicken mom...

Chicken lab is apparently a restaurant...smh.

 

[Kiki]

In MD... Any idea what to Google? Chicken lab?? Gah... Just worried about my girl, plus the other one out there with her!! They came from the same place, sleeping in same coop... Not how I was hoping to spend my first week as a chicken mom...

Hold. I'll be right back.

 

[Kiki]

Chicken lab is apparently a restaurant...smh.

Here:

https://mda.maryland.gov/AnimalHealth/Pages/laboratory.aspx



I'm sorry I thought you were older and more familiar with poultry.


Let's back track....

What exact feed are you using and can you get a few pictures of your coop/set up?

 

[seminolewind]

NO Dr. Google. BYC is the accumulation of information , full of people who have been there, had that , and what they did. Do a search on BYC. You are still a chicken mom. I would treat them all with whatever you use. Not sure if she inhaled water or is sick. One will diminish day to day. Any OTC stuff or all herbs and such will not if they are sick and heading to death. Not knowing what they or her has, IMO my go-to med is Tylan .

 

[Arf]

I'm 42, but have literally owned chickens for 6 days. Thank you for providing a name to the lab, and the link. Might be related so... I noticed the other hen had worms. Long thin white ones, in her poo. Noticed on Sunday. Did 3 days of treatment for both girls in water, goat dewormer, based on as much research as I could online. Started with nutridrench in water today, to try to help the girls kick the shock of transport. Super dark now, but I have and omlet cube and 13 ft run. Dumor laying pellets for food, small tray with a handful of scratch daily, plus oyster shell and grit out in separate trays of their own.