Raspy Breath, Won't Drink At All

Tompike

In the Brooder
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I have an Australorp hen who is about nine years old. Last week I heard all this sneezing/coughing coming from my coop, so I went to see what was wrong. A couple of hens were just standing by the water dish, they all seemed fine. Later on when I went to put them up for the night, she was standing at the edge of the fence, with strange breathing noises. She's usually one of the first in the coop and she's also one of my more skittish girls. I went over to check out what was wrong. I went and picked her right up with out any struggle. Everything seemed okay, her crop was empty though. I took a flashlight and checked down her throats to see if she was choking. It all looked fine. I took her inside just in case she had something contagious and so I could keep a better eye on her. I put some feed down for her, and she ate a little bit so I got her some corn, tomatoes, and zucchini and she absolutely loved it and ate every last piece. Her breathing was still really loud though. The next morning she started to eat more than treats. However, she wouldn't touch the water at all. I tried putting her beak in it, that usually works but it didn't. I put some on a spoon and put it up to her mouth. I tried a bunch of different things to get her to drink that I've seen has worked for people. After two days of nothing working, I decided I just have to force it in her. I got a syringe with water and held open her mouth and slowly squirted it down. I don't send it all the way, I just put it in her beak and she tilts her head up like she's drinking normally. The most I can get down her a day is 4 teaspoons, two in the morning and two and night. She's walking and acting perfectly normal. About a minute after a get the water in her, she walks around and poops it right out. Barely any brown in it, just plain water coming out of her. Later in the afternoon when I don't give her water, her poop is perfectly fine, it's just after she drinks. It's been almost a week now, her breathing is slightly better and I'm not sure what to do with her. She won't drink on her own whatsoever and I know she needs more water than what I'm able to give her a day I try to give her more, but I'm afraid I might hurt her because I have to force her mouth open. I have absolutely no clue what's wrong with her, she looks and acts completely healthy, the only thing is she won't drink and her breathing sounds horrible. Does anyone have any advice on getting her to drink or what might be wrong? Also, how much does she need to drink a day? I'm trying to get more down her, but she just poops it right out anyway.
 
Well I don't know why she is doing that but maybe try a teardrop squirt thingy lol and put it in her mouth and squirt drops in her mouth if she is sweet it should work
 
Nine years old? That is pretty amazing. She could have some stridor, a high pitched wheezy sound made by something in her airway, such as mucus, a piece of food, or some tissue swelling. Don't force water down her because it can choke her. I would add lots of water to some chicken feed, and add a little egg to the mush. She will get water in the food, but also keep clean water available. Put a tsp of plain yogurt in her mush daily for some probiotics. Tube feeding can be done, but I wouldn't put her through that at her age. Read Casportpony's thread "Go team tube feeding" by Googling it if you want to learn how.
 
Alright, I'll try that in the morning. I'll keep giving her juicy things like watermelon too. I'm not going to try tube feeding since she's eating pretty good now and because of how skittish she is. Thanks
 
I kind of thought that at first too, so I've been drawing lines where the water level is and it never goes down, it's always the same. The only time it's been lower is after my dog got in her room and worked up quite the thirst after chowing down on some fresh chicken poo... A little bit ago though, I held the bowl of water up to her face and she actually took a little drink! Just a few sips, but that's better than nothing! I put some vitamins and minerals in the water that I found could help with her breathing, fingers crossed. So if she drinks some more and the vitamins work, hopefully she can get back outside soon!
 
I wish you the best. I'm struggling with an older hen myself and it's not looking good. If I hadn't been tube feeding her 4X a day she'd be dead by now I'm sure. No clue what's wrong with her. I may post my own thread for ideas here.
 
Oh wow... I hope she gets better soon good luck
 

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