Pullet is gasping, coughing and sticking the neck forward and upwards

[qhluvr34]

My son's show Houdan pullet has been sick for 3 days now. She is gasping, coughing and sticking the neck forward and upwards. She wheezes when she sleeps and has crust/snot on her nose. I have been giving her 1/2 cc Tylan 50 for 3 days and Teramyacin in her water. She is not eating her crumbles, so I boiled her an egg and crumbled it for her and she picked at it today. Hopefully a good sign, should I do anything else? How long before I see any improvement? Is this something I should be concerned about for the rest of my flock? I have her in the house in a cage.

 

[chickenlady]

you should not be mixing terrimycin and tylan. that could prove deadly. When you say 1/2 cc tylan50, I am guessing you mean the injectable? You are injecting into the breast, just under the skin? You may have another problem here like gapeworm. They go in the throat of the birds and cause them not to be able to breath. It is difficult but see if you can look down the throat with a light of some sort to see if you can see worms in there.

 

[qhluvr34]

She was wormed, and I did look down her throat, thinking she had something stuck in it and did not see anything. Yes, the injectable, and I cannot get much skin on the breast so I was told I could do the leg? Hope I was told right. So I need to stop the teramyacin in the water? Thanks

 

[chickenlady]

I would stop the terrimycin and give a 1/2cc shot of tylan 50 in the breast area. Pinch the skin a pull a little bit, you should get enough to inject into. I have never heard of putting it in the leg so I really cant comment on that. From the symptoms you give, I would have used tylan myself and I would think it should have cleared it up quite quickly. Clean the crust and stuff from her nostils using vet rx if you have any. That is the same as vicks vapor rub for humans. Keep us posted.

 

[qhluvr34]

It is now day 5 and my hen is still sick. Have been giving the Tylan 50 in the breast, 1/2 cc. She is still gasping like something is in her throat or she can't breathe, but not wheezing as loud. She is not eating and is wasting away. I tried the chopped egg, which she kinda ate the first 3 days, she is not eating now. SHe is my son's Reserve Champion Houdan hen, please help!

 

[chickenlady]

I am so sorry to hear about your chicken. I wish I could help more here. There is obviously something else going on here besides just a respiratory problem. What did you worm with? Not all wormers will take care of gapeworm. Does the bird shake the head at all or just gasping for air? Do you have a local vet who knows about chickens? maybe you need a different, stronger med.

Do you know how to tubefeed a chicken? If so, I would try to get something in her crop. You can buy some kind of baby bird formula, the name escapes me now, you mix with water. Keep putting her beak in water, hopefully she will drink some and stay hydrated.

 

[qhluvr34]

I used Wazine in the water and I tried the Ivomec but she chocked/sprayed most of it over the both of us. She isn't shaking her head anymore, but just opening her mouth, then every so often will scream,cry out. She is pretty much quiet other than that. I am going to call my goat/horse vet and see if she knows anything about chickens, she is the best with the horses/goats, who knows maybe she can help. Thanks for your help.

 

[chickenlady]

Best of luck. I wish I could help more. The tylan can be given for 5-7 days. The vet may prescribe baytril for you.

What color is her comb? You say pullet, what age is she? Take a look at her skin, what color is that?

 

[pips&peeps]

From the Merck Veterinary Manual:

Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) is an acute, highly contagious, herpesvirus infection of chickens and pheasants characterized by severe dyspnea, coughing, and rales. It can also be a subacute disease with lacrimation, tracheitis, conjunctivitis, and mild rales. It has been reported from most areas of the USA in which poultry are intensively reared, as well as from many other countries.
Clinical Findings:
In the acute form, gasping, coughing, rattling, and extension of the neck during inspiration are seen 5-12 days after natural exposure. Reduced productivity is a varying factor in laying flocks. Affected birds are anorectic and inactive. The mouth and beak may be bloodstained from the tracheal exudate. Mortality varies, but may reach 50% in adults, and is usually due to occlusion of the trachea by hemorrhage or exudate. Signs usually subside after ~2 wk, although birds may cough for 1 mo. Strains of low virulence produce little or no mortality with slight respiratory signs and lesions and a slight decrease in egg production.
After recovery, some birds remain carriers for extended periods and become a source of infection for susceptible birds. The latent virus can be reactivated under stressful conditions. Infection also may be spread mechanically. Several epidemics have been traced to the transport of birds in contaminated crates.​

 

[qhluvr34]

I thought it might be Infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) also but she hasn't passed/coughed up blood. I can't see her comb for her beard and tophat, even the judge had a hard time finding it. Her face does seem redder than usual and she seems warmer than usual. My vet doesn't have a clue, I did find a vet 1 hr from me that treats Avian & Exotic Animals, I have put a call in and am waiting for them to call back.