Rooster quit crowing, now weird sounds

[aznewmom]

Hi everyone.
"Finch" quit crowing awhile back. We thought it was odd, but since we live w/in city limits not a bad thing.
He seemed fine, other than the crowing, until today. This morning, my husband told me that he was
making weird sounds. I went out to check on him later in the morning and found him repeatedly making
an almost sneeze/hiccup type of sound. His crop feels completely empty. He seems "normal" in the pen
with everyone else, but when you pick him up, he makes the weird noise and seems listless. Since it
is already nearly 6PM here, I can't get to a vet or feed store for anything until tomorrow. I have brought him
in and recorded a clip of the sound to share here. If anyone has some tips or ideas, please LMK.
I have "people" penicillin here at the house, and some electrolyte mix, but that's about it.
I'm guessing an infection of some type...........or maybe even gape worm?
Now I'm also worried about all my other birds.

THANKS!!!!!!

Stacy
AKA: Aznewmom

 

[aznewmom]

UPDATE.........
I have brought him inside and given him food and water.
He is eating like a pig! Like he hasn't eaten in days.
He has some bread, a bit of cooked egg and flax, olive oil, and some
yellow bell pepper. Quite the dinner. He is going at it all with gusto.
I have only heard the sneezy/hiccup-y/squeeky sound about 2 or 3 more
times. He walks around the house, when I let him, just fine, and
was grooming his feathers. ??????????????????????????

 

[mljohnson05]

It sounds like he has a respiratory cold.... I have not heard this sound out of my chickens B4, so I am giving you a bump in hopes someone will chime in.
God Bless,
Laura
Have you wormed him anytime soon, or perhaps checked for Gapeworms?

 

[aznewmom]

Thank you!

 

[mljohnson05]

if you want to know an easy way to check for gapeworms, let me know or send me a message =)

 

[aznewmom]

Thank you..........yes, please.
He is acting just fine tonight.
Eating, grooming, annoyed that he is inside and in a cage.
It is really just the odd noise and lack of crowing that has
me wondering what is going on. All the other birds seem
fine, fat, happy, laying, etc.........

 

[BYChickenKeepN]

I'm not a vet and certainly no expert, but I agree it seems respiratory/cold. I thought I heard an almost wheezy sound in your video and he sounds a little hoarse, kinda like laryngitis. Do you chickens get laryngitis??

 

[mljohnson05]

Easy way to check for Gape worms (BTW you will want 2 people for this...lol)
FIRST ~ check to make sure that you CANNOT see anything in his airway, throat, etc.
next, take a Q-Tip and Gently pass it down to his throat.... Twist and rub it on the walls of his throat.
Gently pull the Q-Tip back out 9by now he will not like you, so have a nice treat ready..lol
Look on the Q-Tip is you see Tiny, Red sort of "Y" shape things on the swap, then it is Gapeworm
If you do not see any, then I would think it is respiratory... Pick your man up, and place your Ear against his chest...can you hear Wheezing, or "rattles" in his chest?
Keep us posted.
Laura

 

[aznewmom]

Thanks.
I will go and do that.
He was doing pretty well, and eating/drinking, this morning.
We had to run off to a soccer game, so he is back outside.
I will give this all a try and get back later with what I discover.
Thanks again for the help!

 

[aznewmom]

So, I have not gotten to the q-tip stage yet.
I brought him in and fed him. He ate and ate and spent the night inside.
He drank water too. So, all appears "normal". I listened to his chest.
There may be a little wheezy-ness there. I wasn't really sure. It was not
a lot or a real struggle. I hope that is a good sign. My husband said that
it is probably respiratory, since he is eating and drinking some, and can
get it down. He thought that if worms were blocking Finch's throat, then
he would probably not be eating. Any thoughts?
Last night, he sounded a bit more raspy then the night before, but is still
acting pretty normal...........again, eating and drinking. This morning he
was down and being "mean" to the new pullets......trying to peck at them.
He was scratching, eating, and drinking.
SO........HOW do you know when a respiratory thing is "Bad" and not "just" a cold?
If it is viral, then antibiotics won't do any good anyway.
I am trying some vitamins and electrolytes in everyone's water, just as a boost
to nutrition and, hopefully, immunity. I have increased his protein by offering some
scrambled egg to him in the evening.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks again for the help.

Cheers,
Stacy