Sick Pullet? Slowly Gasping or choking?

[MtnFamilyFarm]

We have a 2 1/2 mo old buff orp pullet that is standing on the plank that comes out of the coop and into the run. She is standing there and opening her beak like she is going to make a noise and then closing it. She is doing this repeatedly and just standing there. Every once in a while she makes a funny sound.

What is this? What do we do?

Thanks

Amanda

 

[juststruttin]

We have a 2 1/2 mo old buff orp pullet that is standing on the plank that comes out of the coop and into the run. She is standing there and opening her beak like she is going to make a noise and then closing it. She is doing this repeatedly and just standing there. Every once in a while she makes a funny sound.

What is this? What do we do?

Thanks

Amanda

She may be choking. I would check her throat

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Stupid question I know - but how do I tell if she is choking and if so what do I do? Other than massage her throat I don't know what I could do or even how to tell. Going out to try.....

Amanda

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Dh held her and her bottom beak. I held her top beak and looked down her throat with a flashlight. Saw nothing. We dipped her beak in water. She squawked at us and out came a seed. However, she is still opening and closing her beak. She can breathe. She can walk. Her eyes are clear. Her squawk sounds a little rough. We tried repeating above and also had my dh look since I didn't see anything. I also tried massaging her throat.

She is calm and otherwise seems ok, but don't know if she can actually eat or drink or why she is continuing to do this?

Thanks

Amanda

 

[Shanty]

Or . . . it could CRD! Chronic respiratory disease is ugly. Makes them gasp (so could gape worm) for air, but you should see some thick mucous in the throat in that case. Search BYC threads for info. Hope it's not. I use Denagard (available online) as a preventive here in Texas. Should be some threads on that here at BYC. Good luck with that Orp.

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Throat is clear, but I will check out what you have suggested.

Don't know if it helps, but these are the first chickens that have been on this land in over 40 years. This whole flock came from TSC and Ace the first week of April and have been together (and not around others) ever since. (They were our "starters" to see if we really liked it and wanted to do this). (The month olds are in a different bldg) All other birds in the flock are fine. She is mainly just opening and closing her beak. She had been outside in the run and after we checked her we put her in the coop. A few seconds later she was right back outside in "her" spot. She seems to be fine other than this new odd behavior. I am going to keep a check on her and should be able to tell soon if it is serious or if she can't/won't drink or eat. Haven't had chickens long enough to know whether this can just be chicken behavior sometimes.

Wondering if a blade of grass could have cut her throat a little and irritated her throat?

Am making notes on everything mentioned so if we encounter similar symptoms in the future we will have a check list to reference first.

I appreciate the helpful suggestions and will continue to check them out until mystery is solved or she quits on her own (hoping!)

Amanda

 

[Shanty]

Unfortunately, if it is CRD it arrived with the chicks as they are infected by their mother via the egg. Some breeders vaccinate; others do not, stating that chicks will develop a natural immunity. I've only seen it once years ago and there was about 50% mortality rate in that flock. The other 50% recovered and were fine as egg layers. They weren't being used as breeders as any carriers would pass the disease on to their chicks. Another symptom is that there might be air bubbles in the corner of the eye.

Again, good luck and be vigilant.

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

Her eyes are clear so that is encouraging. Both places get their chicks from a well known lg professional hatchery (same) with an excellent reputation. Since they come from a professional hatchery I would be greatly surprised if they were not able to pick up on such a thing. All that together seems to point to another cause. I will make notes of it for future reference so that if I ever see eyes like that I will understand what I am looking at. Other than opening and closing her beak repeatedly she seems perfectly lively and fine and looks the picture of health. Our 8 yo had just given them all a handful of grass so maybe she cut the inside of her throat on a blade of grass or somehow otherwise irritated it?

I am anxious to check her in the morning, but heavy rain and storms are predicted here tomorrow. First break in the weather and I will go peak in at her and will update.

Amanda

 

[juststruttin]

Most hatcheries are NPIP but that does not mean they are MG clear. You need to confirm that their NPIP cert. includes MG and MS- most do not. I am not suggesting your birds have MG, I am just letting your know that just because they come from a hatchery does not mean they don't have MG as hatcheries usually only test for AI and Pollurum. To varify if they are MG and MS clear you need to check their NPIP logo needs to state MG and MS clean.

 

[MtnFamilyFarm]

OK from reading replies here and some other places I found on "Tilley's Nest" an almost identical experience. I have been giving the chickens slugs when we find them..... apparently a very bad NO NO. She took her chicken to the vet and was advised to worm her and the flock and her pullet was fine and none of the others ever got sick. We are going to go ahead and worm all of them. Going to see if we have left over pumpkin, squash, cuke seeds and give them some of those too.

Hopefully it is this easy to solve! Not feeding any more slugs, earthworms, etc to the chickens now that we know better!

Amanda