Sick chicken

[LaurenFP]

Hi everyone,

One of my hens over the past few days has been staying in a nesting box all day and night. When she breathes she sounds congested, bubbling/ gurgling sounds. Shes not coming out for food or water so ive been taking it to her but Shes not drinking at all. My husband is going to get doxycycline antibiotics for her tomorrow as we think it’s a respiratory infection, but just wondering if any of you think it could be something else?
She has no mucus around her eyes or mouth and her mouth isnt gaping open like for gapeworm

Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'd check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight.
Feel her abdomen for bloat or fluid.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[LaurenFP]

I'd check to make sure her crop is emptying overnight.
Feel her abdomen for bloat or fluid.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Hi,

I don’t think it is her crop, there is no smell and she is eating when I take her food but not drinking at all, ive even tried to mix the food with water so she gets both but Shes not taking the water at all

 

[Eggcessive]

Is there any coughing or sneezing? The doxycycline can treat a mycoplasma or MG disease. Here is a good article to read:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/ext... Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi,

I don’t think it is her crop, there is no smell and she is eating when I take her food but not drinking at all, ive even tried to mix the food with water so she gets both but Shes not taking the water at all

Then you'll need to syringe or tube fluids into her.

A crop doesn't have to smell for there to be a blockage or problem.

 

[LaurenFP]

Is there any coughing or sneezing? The doxycycline can treat a mycoplasma or MG disease. Here is a good article to read:
https://extension.umd.edu/sites/extension.umd.edu/files/2022-04/FS-1008 Recognizing and Preventing Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) Infecti....pdf

Only a couple of times she has sneezed, not that often, it’s more when Shes eating she eats very quick and does a little cough/sneeze. It’s her breathing that makes the crackling sound constantly like she is full of phlegm. No mucus at all on her eyes or mouth so it doesn’t seem like MG.

 

[LaurenFP]

Then you'll need to syringe or tube fluids into her.

A crop doesn't have to smell for there to be a blockage or problem.

I have tried putting her beak right into the water but she doesn’t take it at all, and doesn’t leave the nesting box for me to pick her up whenever I put my hand near her she completely puffs out like Shes guarding, but she isnt laying eggs

 

[Eggcessive]

I would remove her from the nest box, and place her in a dog crate or pen where I could work with her. You can try getting her to drink first, then eat. Also, you can learn to tube feed if she will not drink. Here is a good article to read:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/go-team-tube-feeding-updated-12-29-2019.805728/