Please help, sick chicken, guessing respiratory

FluffyFaverolles

Songster
Nov 28, 2020
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I have an Easter Egger who is about 8 years old, this weekend we had a heat wave here and the weather was pretty hot but I was making sure the hens were getting plenty of water. I think she has a respiratory issue and I’m really worried about her. Usually she doesn’t like being held but she’s been very compliant and patient with us.
-She’s closing her eyes which she doesn’t usually do
-Her breath smells, but not yeasty like sour crop
-Her cluck is raspy and her breathing is gurgly/there’s a clicking sound(?)
-Her breathing seems more labored than usual and she sounds congested
-She’s open-mouth breathing and was drooling a bit


Currently I have her quarantined away from the other hens but I’m afraid it’s spread to them. She’s not eager to drink water today and I really need her to, do I just force her somehow? We’re picking up antibiotics for her today
Thank you in advance. I’ve had her for a very long time and she still seems spry and aware of her surroundings, not incredibly lethargic or anything. She’s also pooped at least once in her quarantine enclosure today
 
Last edited:
Easter Egger who is about 8 years old, this weekend we had a heat wave here and the weather was pretty hot

I think she has a respiratory issue and I’m really worried about her.

She’s closing her eyes which she doesn’t usually do
-Her breath smells, but not yeasty like sour crop
-Her cluck is raspy and her breathing is gurgly/there’s a clicking sound(?)
-Her breathing seems more labored than usual and she sounds congested
-She’s open-mouth breathing and was drooling a bit
Does she still lay eggs?
Photos of her and her poop may be helpful as well.

I would make sure she's staying hydrated. Offer some electrolytes.
Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs - is there any bloat or feeling of fluid?

Her age may be catching up to her. Work on hydration and check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight. Breath that smells along with drooling and gurgling, she's likely having some crop issues. This is often related to reproductive disorders or could be organ dsyfunction.
Heat exhaustion can be a real problem as well, so it's good that you are taking measures to get her a bit cooler.

Here's some info about treating the crop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
 
I have an Easter Egger who is about 8 years old, this weekend we had a heat wave here and the weather was pretty hot but I was making sure the hens were getting plenty of water. I think she has a respiratory issue and I’m really worried about her. Usually she doesn’t like being held but she’s been very compliant and patient with us.
-She’s closing her eyes which she doesn’t usually do
-Her breath smells, but not yeasty like sour crop
-Her cluck is raspy and her breathing is gurgly/there’s a clicking sound(?)
-Her breathing seems more labored than usual and she sounds congested
-She’s open-mouth breathing and was drooling a bit


Currently I have her quarantined away from the other hens but I’m afraid it’s spread to them. She’s not eager to drink water today and I really need her to, do I just force her somehow? We’re picking up antibiotics for her today
Thank you in advance. I’ve had her for a very long time and she still seems spry and aware of her surroundings, not incredibly lethargic or anything. She’s also pooped at least once in her quarantine enclosure today
Update, she has canker upon further research. Cant get her into a vet until Tuesday. What can I do to make sure it doesn’t get really awful until then?
 
Does she still lay eggs?
Photos of her and her poop may be helpful as well.

I would make sure she's staying hydrated. Offer some electrolytes.
Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs - is there any bloat or feeling of fluid?

Her age may be catching up to her. Work on hydration and check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight. Breath that smells along with drooling and gurgling, she's likely having some crop issues. This is often related to reproductive disorders or could be organ dsyfunction.
Heat exhaustion can be a real problem as well, so it's good that you are taking measures to get her a bit cooler.

Here's some info about treating the crop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
Cant tell if she’s laying but she has gone to the bathroom today. We’ve been giving her water through a syringe and added some poultry medicine to clear out her system. Upon further inspection in her mouth and based off of the smell, we’re pretty sure she has canker. We’re going to tube feed her tonight and pick up some medicine for it nearby until we can get her to the vet. She’s not out of it but definitely more docile than usual. We felt her crop and it felt normal as well. I could fetch a photo of her poop but I’m 95% sure on the problem now. Do you know if there’s more I could do?
Let me get a photo of the lesion
 
Upon further inspection in her mouth and based off of the smell, we’re pretty sure she has canker. We’re going to tube feed her tonight and pick up some medicine for it nearby until we can get her to the vet.
Are there lesions inside the beak and a bad rotten odor?

Canker is treated with Metronidazole or you can use Acidified Copper Sulfate.
It is contagious and birds are carriers, so you may want to treat your flock's water with the ACS for 3 days as well.

Metronidazole dose is 250mg given orally 2 times a day for 5-7 days.

Metronidazole is the treatment for Canker. 250mg given orally twice a day for 5-7 days.
https://www.allivet.com/p-2393-fish...ole&utm_content=Fish Zole Overall 26812_1_466

Acidified Copper Sulfate. Dose is 1/4tsp per gallon of water give for 3 days in a row.
https://www.strombergschickens.com/product/acidified-copper-sulfate-1-lb
 
Are there lesions inside the beak and a bad rotten odor?

Canker is treated with Metronidazole or you can use Acidified Copper Sulfate.
It is contagious and birds are carriers, so you may want to treat your flock's water with the ACS for 3 days as well.

Metronidazole dose is 250mg given orally 2 times a day for 5-7 days.

Metronidazole is the treatment for Canker. 250mg given orally twice a day for 5-7 days.
https://www.allivet.com/p-2393-fish-zole-metronidazole.aspx?sp=1&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=FishZoleDesktop&msclkid=69b097bd81861166cfd2f776327ad9f3&utm_term=fish zole&utm_content=Fish Zole Overall 26812_1_466

Acidified Copper Sulfate. Dose is 1/4tsp per gallon of water give for 3 days in a row.
https://www.strombergschickens.com/product/acidified-copper-sulfate-1-lb
We called everywhere and can’t find them locally. She has a vet appointment on Tuesday, we’ve continued to tubefeed and water her and she’s still defecating properly. Is there anything else I can do other than just wait it out and do the best we can at home?
 
So there are lesions inside the beak?

You generally won't find those items locally, that's why I included a link to them, a lot of things have to be ordered online.

Keeping her fed and watered is good, if it's canker you can try researching home care to see if there's more that can be done.
 

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