Open mouth breathing

[Gina112122]

I have a 6 ish month old hen that was attacked by a dog last wed. I did not see what happend but I know her leg was dislocated so we braced it but she keeps opening her mouth and breathing heavy. No hissing or gurgling but does get out a slight coo sound. She is still eating and drinking I have tried sugar water for shock and a heat lamp but what else can I do? Desperate for help!

 

[azygous]

She's likely suffering from internal injuries. The lungs are especially vulnerable if a predator grabs the bird on the back behind the head. Not much can be done for such an injury.

Sometimes they heal, but more often, the bird reaches a point where there isn't enough lung function to supply O2 to the tissues and organs, and the chicken dies.

 

[Myrshine]

I agree, she may have had one of her air sacs or even her lungs punctured, causing her to have trouble breathing.

 

[Gina112122]

She's likely suffering from internal injuries. The lungs are especially vulnerable if a predator grabs the bird on the back behind the head. Not much can be done for such an injury.

Sometimes they heal, but more often, the bird reaches a point where there isn't enough lung function to supply O2 to the tissues and organs, and the chicken dies.

Thank you for responding. I would assume when she has had enough and O2 levels are low her crown would start to turn purple? How long do you think they can fight for? She is starting to move around more and make more noise not a lot but some. I have started to give her rosemary not sure how much it would help

 

[azygous]

Rosemary can't hurt, but it likely won't add much to her healing. What she could use is a vitamin supplement to increase her bodily functions. If you are in the US, there's a product called Poultry Nutri-drench. It's a thick tonic that you can put in her water and sprinkle over her food. It gets right into her system without being metabolized by the liver, so it will work even if her organs are injured.

Keep her warm, continue to treat her injuries to prevent infection, and with supportive care such as this, she has a chance to heal. You can find the Nutri-drench at most feed stores or get it from Amazon.