Trying to diagnose - need help please

[demerson]

3 month old BLRW - this has been going on for about 4 or 5 days ... first couple of days I thought he was starting to crow.....
He is gaping
He is often times making a sort of "honking" noise
The gaping and "honking" goes on all day Frequently he appears to be swallowing after gaping
With my ear on his back I can on occasion hear a wheeze/rattle when he exhales

He IS NOT sneezing
There is no discharge , no bubbles in the eyes , no foul smell

He is the only bird that has these symptoms.

He drinks and eats and is up and running around with the others

Day time temps have been anywhere from the mid 40s to the mid 60s and getting down to the 20s/30s at night there is a heat lamp on for them if they so choose to use it 24/7 .
They are semi free ranged .

I am leaning towards gape worm as there is no swelling/discharge but I have not ever dealt with that - or any other sickness really other than coccidia

any thoughts?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Sounds like gape worm,

 

[casportpony]

Could be a bacterial or fungal infection.

 

[chickenzoo]

With gape worms you should be able to see tiny reddish worms in the skin of the throat....
If none, then could be fungal, allergy, or a respitory illness, . Have you changed bedding in the area he sleeps. Is it very dusty where he is?. For a respitory issue I like to use Tylan 50 cattle injectable. For other bacteria or virus that are very advanced I use Baytril.
Allergy you can use children's Benadryl .
Problem is narrowing it down. I would think we could cross out allergy since their is a slight rattle or wheeze.

 

[dawg53]

Most likely there could be something stuck in his throat or crop since he's eating and drinking. He wouldnt be eating/drinking if he had gapes...they suffocate a bird to death and he would be too busy trying to breathe to survive. Also, gapeworms are rare in chickens.
Give him an eyedropperful of olive oil to swallow and massage his thoat down to his crop. He'll either pass or puke whatever is stuck.