To treat or not to treat...

[triciajoy78]

My flock is 8 pullets and one suspected silkie roo. My EE has an occasional sneeze sound but is acting great and eating well. I have a GLW who hiccups (although theres no diaphram in chickens) but not at night and is eating and drinking fine.

I've researched online and it seems like EE is fine and GLW may have grapeworms? Since both are acting ok otherwise should I just monitor? Treat for worms just in case? Something else? I only have one laying for about a week which is a leghorn who stopped laying a couple days ago. She was an escape artist and she's unable to get out now... thats when she stopped laying.

Any advise is appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[rebrascora]

Gapeworm is pretty rare but because of it's name it often gets misdiagnosed every time a chicken "gapes" and there can be a lot of other causes of that symptom. I'm not sure "hiccups" are a symptom of gapeworm anyway, so quite surprised you are even considering that diagnosis. Where is the world are you? Is Gapeworm common in your area? (It helps to include your rough location on your profile page so that we can see at a glance each time you post and offer appropriate advice.... it is surprisingly relevant)
You may have a mild respiratory illness starting in your flock.... it happens from time to time in mine..... Infectious Bronchitis I believe.... some birds sneeze or sound snotty for a few days or weeks but rarely over the years has it taken a bird down and usually it was otherwise compromised in it's health. I will use a little Vicks Vapour Rub if a bird is particularly congested but otherwise I provide them with a healthy diet and they mostly fight it off without any need for medication.

 

[triciajoy78]

Will update my profile! I'm from Kansas.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My flock is 8 pullets and one suspected silkie roo. My EE has an occasional sneeze sound but is acting great and eating well. I have a GLW who hiccups (although theres no diaphram in chickens) but not at night and is eating and drinking fine.

I've researched online and it seems like EE is fine and GLW may have grapeworms? Since both are acting ok otherwise should I just monitor? Treat for worms just in case? Something else? I only have one laying for about a week which is a leghorn who stopped laying a couple days ago. She was an escape artist and she's unable to get out now... thats when she stopped laying.

Any advise is appreciated!
Thanks!

Can you post a video? upload to youtube or similar platform and provide us a link.

An occasional sneeze could be from dust, mold, getting feed in the nostrils or possibly respiratory disease. Unless there are other symptoms (mucous, watery eyes, facial swelling, wheezing) that accompany the sneezing or the sneezing increases drastically, I would just observe the pullet - take note of what she is doing when she sneezes.

The GLW hiccuping - check her crop - it should be empty first thing in the morning before she eats/drinks. Also with her....observe-is there a particular "activity" she is doing that causes the hiccups. Is she low in pecking order and scrambling to inhale food or treats before she is chased off? (Or some other similar situation)

Your Leghorn - look around to make sure she is not laying somewhere else - sometimes even within a coop they can make a little nest in the corner or under something and lay their eggs.

Finally - how much space (sq ft) do you have for your coop and run? Stress from overcrowding, changes in feed, illness, changes in weather, etc. can disrupt laying.

 

[triciajoy78]

So I watched them for awhile and am not hearing anything of course! Here's a pic of my coop and run. Trying to get a video posted in a couple. Didn't catch a lot of it but something to give you a glimpse. There were daily storms around the time so I dont know if that is what stressed her out. Here's two super quick videos. Its the best I could get!

Also I searched everywhere! No eggs!

 

[snow5164]

When I hear a sneeze in the coop I add garlic paste to their food , it seems to help whatever is bugging them .

And then the chicken runs smells really good

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So I watched them for awhile and am not hearing anything of course! Here's a pic of my coop and run. Trying to get a video posted in a couple. Didn't catch a lot of it but something to give you a glimpse. There were daily storms around the time so I dont know if that is what stressed her out. Here's two super quick videos. Its the best I could get!

Also I searched everywhere! No eggs!

They have a nice shady area!
It's hard to tell with the videos, but thank you for those
I would continue to monitor them. If the window is the only ventilation that your coop has, consider adding more. Closed up spaces can become dusty and cause respiratory symptoms. http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/c...-go-out-there-and-cut-more-holes-in-your-coop

 

[Saaniya]

You have to treat
First add up garlic & black pepper to their feed vetrx if they still sneeze antibiotics are required for entire flock