Respiratory illness in older hen

[banjoellen]

My husband and I are visiting family a couple hours away and they have a hen who is sickly. I think it’s a respiratory illness of some kind as she is sneezing. She also has sickly looking eyes, like you can just tell she feels bad. I’m a little concerned about her feet too, maybe scaly leg mites but not sure if it’s maybe something connected to the sneezing. Family is willing to let us take her and nurse her back to health (I enjoy playing vet). I’ve been very confused about the availability of antibiotics here in the US. Do you all know if/where there is one I can buy without a prescription, or is there another remedy I can try? Family has been using VetRx but only applying it under her nostrils so I want to try putting it in her water as well, and some ACV too. But I’m worried we’re to the point of needing antibiotics and I don’t know how to get those without a vet visit. Does anyone know? She’s an older lavender orpington, about 5yo. I will be isolating her in a crate away from my flock of course. Any suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are you sure you want to take on a sick bird and potentially bring something contagious to your property?
I'm not trying to be mean, just asking...there's been a few that decided to rescue or help a bird only to wish they didn't later on due to spread of illness. Even with "quarantine" there's risk.
Of course it's your decision and if it's something you think through then go for it.

If you're wanting to see what can be done. I would check her for lice/mites on the body - if you find those, then treat with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust.

The legs are hard to tell if it's age/damage or possibly SLM but I would treat for SLM. Apply oil, vaseline or something like Nu Stock to the legs a couple of times a week. It won't hurt her either way.

Her eye, I would flush with saline, clean it well. You can put eye ointment like Terramycin in the eye or apply a dab of Plain Neosporin.
Look inside her beak for mucous, canker or lesions.

Sneezing can happen sometimes - check out everything else before jumping to medication. IF you feel that she needs an antibiotic and that it's respiratory disease. Tylosin can be used to treat disease like Mycoplasma. https://www.jedds.com/shop/tylan-soluble-100-g/

She's 5 years old. Does she still lay eggs? She could also have other issues beginning to show up - reproductive problems or just age related fatigue.

Getting a fecal float to see if worms may be a problem is a good idea as well.

 

[banjoellen]

Thanks so much for your answer. We ended up not bringing Granny Smith home with us as we worried it would stress her out too much and make her condition worse. I just panicked seeing an animal in distress and I wanted to help, but I think my relative has it in hand. I am positive she is experiencing respiratory illness vs. something environmental causing the sneezing, as I heard some very raspy/junky breathing and she seems to be having some trouble breathing through her nostrils. I have had a hen before sneezing due to getting some dust or something in her nose and as a new chicken owner I flipped out thinking she was sick, but once she got the irritant out she stopped. Her sneezes were actually kind of adorable once I realized she was fine! Granny Smith on the other hand clearly feels terrible I do not know if she still lays eggs but I expect not. I will pass on your advice to my relative, but I also appreciate your response because I am going to order some tylosin for myself to keep on hand, just in case. These emergencies always seem to happen on the weekends or in the evenings when nothing is open so I’ve been assembling a first aid kit for my flock!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks so much for your answer. We ended up not bringing Granny Smith home with us as we worried it would stress her out too much and make her condition worse. I just panicked seeing an animal in distress and I wanted to help, but I think my relative has it in hand. I am positive she is experiencing respiratory illness vs. something environmental causing the sneezing, as I heard some very raspy/junky breathing and she seems to be having some trouble breathing through her nostrils. I have had a hen before sneezing due to getting some dust or something in her nose and as a new chicken owner I flipped out thinking she was sick, but once she got the irritant out she stopped. Her sneezes were actually kind of adorable once I realized she was fine! Granny Smith on the other hand clearly feels terrible I do not know if she still lays eggs but I expect not. I will pass on your advice to my relative, but I also appreciate your response because I am going to order some tylosin for myself to keep on hand, just in case. These emergencies always seem to happen on the weekends or in the evenings when nothing is open so I’ve been assembling a first aid kit for my flock!

You are right, a trip and change to a new place can be stressful on a healthy bird much less one that is not doing well.

Hopefully they will be able to get some Tylosin to see if that helps.

Raspy breathing can also be seen in hens that have crop issues and reproductive problems. Say like Ascites (Fluid in the abdomen) which is a symptom sometimes seen with reproductive problems - this can cause some raspiness/gurgling too. I'm just thinking of all the things that can cause respiratory problems besides contagious respiratory disease. Heart/organ problems is another.
Tylosin is a good antibiotic for bacterial respiratory problems and may even help if she's got infection from reproductive issues - a lot just really depends. It can be frustrating.

I would still check her for lice/mites and there's nothing wrong with applying a bit of oil to the legs to help them out. I fall out of habit at times, but I try to oil my birds legs at least once a month - I've never had SLM, but my bird's legs can look a bit dry at times.

Hens are such dears, a lot of them don't age well, so 5 yrs is pretty good, I hate to say. Sadly, reproductive issues are often the main decline in laying hens or have been for mine, it seems they burn out.