- May 13, 2009
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Hi, I have a Buff Pekin hen (offically known as "Honey" but often referred to as "mom" because she hatched our first ever egg). We have had her for about 6 months. We bought her as a broody hen along with some fertiles eggs and one of the eggs hatched and that egg became "bob" (we think Bob is a female but 100% sure yet). They are always together.
Honey began making some strange coughing/squeaking sounds around the time Bob was hatched but was otherwise well. As time went on the coughing/squeaking got worse and more frequent. I gave her flubenvet for 7 days and during that time her symptoms did improve but did not go away. After the 7 days the symptoms came back and eventually got worse. After I posted on a local poultry forum about the problem a member sent me some tylan (sp?) antibiotic for her with the dosage instructions. I gave Honey the meds in her water but I dont think she drank much of it or at least not regularly enough to help because nothing changed with her symptoms. I decided to try the Flubenvet again just in case it was more than coincidence that her symptoms did improve for awhile when we gave it to her last time. The same thing happened, the symptoms improved (not completely) but came right back when the course was done.
Symptoms:
Strange breathing sound upon close inspection (a bit gurgling or crackling)
Occasional beak gaping (left open like she's breathing through her mouth)
Occasional stretching her neck up with eyes closed
Sudden loud squeak, like a cough or sneeze but definitely not a sneeze
feathers down and a bit puffed
She seems to eat well but never has anything in her crop, it is always empty. In fact you can't even feel it.
she is thin under all her feathers
She does NOT have a runny nose or eyes....not yet anyway. Her bum is clean and she doesnt seem to have diarrhea (sp?) but I have 4 hens who free range so I might be missing something there...
I laid her on her back once to just stroke her and settle her down and the noises from her chest or throat became worse, even though she seemed very calm, and she opened her beak like she needed the help with breathing.
When I pick her up, (I know this is going to sound weird) it feel like something "clunks" a bit in her throat or upper chest area. By "clunk" I mean like a slight shifting or moving of something that makes a light bumping or clunking sound.
I really at at a loss as to what to do for her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. She is a very friendly, sweet little girl and Bob would be devastated without his/her mom.
Here is the link to a short video of her with symptoms which was taken about 2 months ago.
Thank you,
Kelly
Honey began making some strange coughing/squeaking sounds around the time Bob was hatched but was otherwise well. As time went on the coughing/squeaking got worse and more frequent. I gave her flubenvet for 7 days and during that time her symptoms did improve but did not go away. After the 7 days the symptoms came back and eventually got worse. After I posted on a local poultry forum about the problem a member sent me some tylan (sp?) antibiotic for her with the dosage instructions. I gave Honey the meds in her water but I dont think she drank much of it or at least not regularly enough to help because nothing changed with her symptoms. I decided to try the Flubenvet again just in case it was more than coincidence that her symptoms did improve for awhile when we gave it to her last time. The same thing happened, the symptoms improved (not completely) but came right back when the course was done.
Symptoms:
Strange breathing sound upon close inspection (a bit gurgling or crackling)
Occasional beak gaping (left open like she's breathing through her mouth)
Occasional stretching her neck up with eyes closed
Sudden loud squeak, like a cough or sneeze but definitely not a sneeze
feathers down and a bit puffed
She seems to eat well but never has anything in her crop, it is always empty. In fact you can't even feel it.
she is thin under all her feathers
She does NOT have a runny nose or eyes....not yet anyway. Her bum is clean and she doesnt seem to have diarrhea (sp?) but I have 4 hens who free range so I might be missing something there...
I laid her on her back once to just stroke her and settle her down and the noises from her chest or throat became worse, even though she seemed very calm, and she opened her beak like she needed the help with breathing.
When I pick her up, (I know this is going to sound weird) it feel like something "clunks" a bit in her throat or upper chest area. By "clunk" I mean like a slight shifting or moving of something that makes a light bumping or clunking sound.
I really at at a loss as to what to do for her. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. She is a very friendly, sweet little girl and Bob would be devastated without his/her mom.
Here is the link to a short video of her with symptoms which was taken about 2 months ago.
Thank you,
Kelly
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