Silkie Breathing Hard

[Arlaliebmann]

I have a young pullet that is about 9 months old. She became broodie about 3 weeks ago, but has since been broken. She has always been vocal but noticed that a lot of it is spontaneous and looks like she can't control. When it happens, it is a loud screech and she sticks her neck out. Since she was broken from being broodie, she doesn't like to go outside (temps staying in the low 30's F), and sits on the roost and looks like she is having a hard time breathing. She has always had the spontaneous screeches, however, they seem to be increasing in frequency. The hard breathing has just come on over the past several days. The video shows the hard breathing (uses her whole body), with little chirps. Towards the end of the video you can see one of her screeches.

Any ideas on how to treat her? We don't have any vets in the area that treat chickens, so kinda on my own to figure it out. We do have a Cal-Ranch and a Tractor Supply close by and think I can pick up medication at either of those, I just don't know what to treat her with.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have you ever had respiratory illness within your flock?

Hard to know what's going on with her. I would feel her all over just to make sure there's no air bubbles or pockets under the skin, that her crop is emptying overnight, look inside her beak for lesions or canker. Feel her abdomen below the vent between her legs for bloat or fluid.
If possible, get a fecal float to see if worms are contributing to her symptoms.

You could try and antibiotic like Tylan/Tylosin to see if that helps.

 

[Arlaliebmann]

I have never dealt with this in my flock. I called the vet and he gave me an antibiotic for respiratory issues.

She has been on it now for 3 days and she is still breathing hard and the squawks are not coming out very loud. So now affecting her vocal. She is still eating and drinking but will not roost but sleeps in the nesting box. She only comes outside for a short time and prefers to stay in the coop. Mild weather in the low 40’s but very windy.

Would it be helpful if I put a heat lamp on her or brought her inside for a few days? Not sure what else to do for her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is the antibiotic from the vet helping at all?
You examined her completely and didn't find anything - crop is emptying, no ruptured air sacs, no lesions or pasty material in the beak, no swelling or fluid in the abdomen, no mucous from the eyes, facial swelling, no lice/mites, etc...

Where are you located in the world?

Can the vet run a fecal float? She's eating/drinking, so I don't think Gapeworm would be the issue, but ruling out worms as contributor would be a good idea.

You can try bringing her in where it's a bit warmer - see if this helps. Stressed and sick birds have a hard time regulating temperature.

 

[Arlaliebmann]

The antibiotics seem to be helping. I’m somewhat new to chickens so not very good at checking all of the things suggested other than visually. I am in Utah and currently in a cold spell of below freezing. She looks to be doing much better and the hard breathing has turned into a more mild case. She still squeaks instead of clucking, but otherwise acts perfectly normal.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Glad she's showing some improvement! Thanks for the update

 

[Arlaliebmann]

So an update on my poor Gabby, she comes out of the house and seems to be eating, but still has the open mouth labored breathing. I was able to feed her some dried meal worms and very enthusiastic about eating, however it looked like it might be hard for her to swallow. So we got her, opened her mouth and took a pic. It looks as though there is something to the side, but doesn’t look to be obstructing anything, but wondering if there might be more down her throat. Does anybody recognize this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Is there a bad odor? If so, then I would say it's Canker. Metronidazole is used to treat that.