So last week I noticed my original Silver-laced Orpington seemed to be in some respiratory distress. She had labored breathing with an open beak and was sneezing/coughing fairly regularly. It's been really hot and they'd been dust bathing so I chalked up the first day to environmental issues. The second day; however, she was much worse. I managed to find a store about thirty minutes away that carried VetRX and was able to get it after work the following day. When I got home I thought it would be pretty pointless as she'd been standing under a cage with younger chickens and was covered in their feces. Her eyes were watering profusely, I was able from a distance to hear the gurgling, raspy breathing, and her nares (nostrils) were clogged with mucus. I got some VetRX into her and after a few minutes she actually perked up. She sat with me on the patio table for fifteen minutes or so before she asked to hop down. I put her on the ground and she proceeded to "chicken" for lack of a better word. It was obvious that she didn't feel great, but after cleaning her up where she was able to see and breathe, she preened a bit, looked through the grass, and moved where she was able to see the rest of the flock. I made the decision to keep her indoors over night and let her stay out in the small fenced in yard with food and water the next day if she was feeling better. I got a hospital area ready for her and picked her up. (This is where I think I made a mistake with her as she flapped and struggled which she hadn't done before.) I got her inside and settled and left her alone. When I came back out to check on her, she'd passed away, her mouth full of wet feed. I can only think that struggling caused her to start coughing and she regurgitated. The mucus plus the vomit filled her airways and she asphyxiated.
Several days went by with everyone else acting fine and now one of the roosters and a six month old pullet have developed the sneeze and cough. Obviously I've been watching them like a hawk, so I caught it much earlier. I've been administering the VetRX three times a day to the two sick birds (with a separate syringe) and once daily to the other Orpingtons.
Overnight seems to be the hardest on them and they look the worst in the morning. Between the second treatment and bed time they seem to feel much better and have an easier time breathing. I know the VetRX isn't going to fix the problem and unfortunately I do not have the time off from work in order to take one into a veterinarian if I can find one that can see and treat them. Is there anything else I could be giving them? A vet friend suggested putting them in the bathroom with a hot shower as the humidity would assist their breathing. Another friend suggest apple cider vinegar (which I thought helped more with bacteria in the stomach). Someone near by that does chickens suggested Denegard which I can't find locally at all.
According to the sticky, I will try to fill the following out as accurately as possible:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
All the affected birds have been Silver-laced Orpingtons. The first hen and the rooster are about 1.5 years of age and the pullet is 6 months. The other four Orpingtons (over 2 years) and the American Buff Geese (over 1 year) haven't been affected yet.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
The affected bird has labored breathing, a thick cream-colored mucus that they attempt to cough up, sneezing and coughing often, lethargic behavior (not interested in eating or drinking most of the time, lying down the majority of the time, uninterested in things that they'd usually be interested in such as getting out to chase bugs, eat grass, etc.), as well as darker combs and wattles I assume caused from a lack of oxygen-rich blood due to the issues breathing.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
The current birds began sneezing/coughing Saturday afternoon/evening
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
So far, no, the other four adult Orpingtons show no symptoms other than those caused be heat-related stress. I've been watching them really closely. Although, they are getting one preventative dose in a clean syringe, once daily.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
N/A other than clear and evident signs of respiratory distress.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
N/A
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Not as much as normal, they are definitely losing weight, although yesterday after their afternoon treatment they did act much more normal, eating and drinking.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Looser than normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
VetRX
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat them myself due to financial and time constraints but all serious and helpful suggestions are welcome.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I can provide a video of the breathing or pictures of them later today, but I don't have any currently have any on my phone.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Outdoors; large run and access to a fully fenced in yard throughout the day; minimal white pine shavings on the floor of house (rat snakes were living under it so most of it was removed a few weeks ago).
Several days went by with everyone else acting fine and now one of the roosters and a six month old pullet have developed the sneeze and cough. Obviously I've been watching them like a hawk, so I caught it much earlier. I've been administering the VetRX three times a day to the two sick birds (with a separate syringe) and once daily to the other Orpingtons.
Overnight seems to be the hardest on them and they look the worst in the morning. Between the second treatment and bed time they seem to feel much better and have an easier time breathing. I know the VetRX isn't going to fix the problem and unfortunately I do not have the time off from work in order to take one into a veterinarian if I can find one that can see and treat them. Is there anything else I could be giving them? A vet friend suggested putting them in the bathroom with a hot shower as the humidity would assist their breathing. Another friend suggest apple cider vinegar (which I thought helped more with bacteria in the stomach). Someone near by that does chickens suggested Denegard which I can't find locally at all.
According to the sticky, I will try to fill the following out as accurately as possible:
1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
All the affected birds have been Silver-laced Orpingtons. The first hen and the rooster are about 1.5 years of age and the pullet is 6 months. The other four Orpingtons (over 2 years) and the American Buff Geese (over 1 year) haven't been affected yet.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
The affected bird has labored breathing, a thick cream-colored mucus that they attempt to cough up, sneezing and coughing often, lethargic behavior (not interested in eating or drinking most of the time, lying down the majority of the time, uninterested in things that they'd usually be interested in such as getting out to chase bugs, eat grass, etc.), as well as darker combs and wattles I assume caused from a lack of oxygen-rich blood due to the issues breathing.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
The current birds began sneezing/coughing Saturday afternoon/evening
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
So far, no, the other four adult Orpingtons show no symptoms other than those caused be heat-related stress. I've been watching them really closely. Although, they are getting one preventative dose in a clean syringe, once daily.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
N/A other than clear and evident signs of respiratory distress.
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
N/A
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Not as much as normal, they are definitely losing weight, although yesterday after their afternoon treatment they did act much more normal, eating and drinking.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Looser than normal.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
VetRX
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I would prefer to treat them myself due to financial and time constraints but all serious and helpful suggestions are welcome.
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I can provide a video of the breathing or pictures of them later today, but I don't have any currently have any on my phone.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Outdoors; large run and access to a fully fenced in yard throughout the day; minimal white pine shavings on the floor of house (rat snakes were living under it so most of it was removed a few weeks ago).
