Sickness caused by powdery mildew or black slime mold on grass??

[Farmgirl1878]

Can black slime mold or powdery mildew on the grass cause respiratory illness in chickens? We live in waaaaaay-Southern Ohio which is basically a temperate rain forest year round. It’s hot. It’s humid (upwards of 65% every single fricking day). And this year, we’ve had torrential downpours. The grass is covered with black slime mold and powdery mildew. One of my hens, who likes to frequent an area that I’ve since fenced off because of the mold, is gaping and expelling a whitish discharge from her mouth (her nares are clear and dry). She only gapes when she’s lying down on her chest. No sign of worms, no wheezing or rales. She shakes her head quite a few times a day too. She’s eating and drinking normally and her activity level is normal considering it’s in the 90s with about the same humidity level. So far, she’s the only one with these symptoms. (FYI, this is not my alpha hen, Butterfly. I’ve posted about her symptoms too this week.)

I’ll post pics of the grass later this morning.

 

[little chick-y baby mama]

Can black slime mold or powdery mildew on the grass cause respiratory illness in chickens? We live in waaaaaay-Southern Ohio which is basically a temperate rain forest year round. It’s hot. It’s humid (upwards of 65% every single fricking day). And this year, we’ve had torrential downpours. The grass is covered with black slime mold and powdery mildew. One of my hens, who likes to frequent an area that I’ve since fenced off because of the mold, is gaping and expelling a whitish discharge from her mouth (her nares are clear and dry). She only gapes when she’s lying down on her chest. No sign of worms, no wheezing or rales. She shakes her head quite a few times a day too. She’s eating and drinking normally and her activity level is normal considering it’s in the 90s with about the same humidity level. So far, she’s the only one with these symptoms. (FYI, this is not my alpha hen, Butterfly. I’ve posted about her symptoms too this week.)

I’ll post pics of the grass later this morning.

oh my. I would think there are probably parasites in that moldy goo that covers the grass. I would separate the sick-looking hen and make sure no other chickens peck that grass until it is free from the stuff. I'm not sure if it's the grass making the hen lay funny, but just to make sure I would separate her and cove the grass.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Here’s the black slime mold.

 

[little chick-y baby mama]

Here’s the black slime mold. View attachment 2775297
View attachment 2775298

To be honest, I don't see anything. But I know it's there obviously.