*UPDATE* Injured bird now seems to be struggling for breath.

[Hatrick]

My mysteriously injured, and as of yet, not diagnosed Maple is now mouth breathing. This is tough to watch. What is this a sign of? How long will this go on? Does this mean that she's getting worse? She's still eating and drinking.

 

[JakRat]

How was she injured? Is it hot out? How is her crop? I am not sure what it could be but you will deff get answers on here! Just let everyone know as much detail as possible!

 

[Blue_Myst]

A little more information would be helpful. Please check out the sticky thread in this section, it lists a bunch of generally helpful questions

What type of injury does she have? Is she struggling for breath, or panting? I'm sure someone will be along soon who has a better idea of what is happening to your girl.

 

[ZZsBabiez]

I had a feeling it was Merek's when you first posted. I'm sorry this is happening, it's so hard to take.

Is her comb and face pale? Are her eyes the right color? Has she regained any of her mobility?

 

[Hatrick]

She still cannot walk or stand, however doesn't it seem strange that she would suddenly develop Marek's after being manhandled by my daughter?

Her comb and face don't appear any different than before, although maybe they are pale, but I don't really know.

She just keeps opening her mouth to breathe, she can't take a breath without doing that.

I don't know what else to tell you.

 

[ChooksChick]

My hen George fell in a roost fight and broke her pelvis two weeks ago. She had raspy mouth breathing immediately, and the vet says it's a stress reaction. She has been more pale and her comb has fallen since then, also stress reaction.

Unfortunately, stress reactions are the same in many different cases, so a diagnosis is often difficult.

Can you tell us how old Maple is, when you last saw her healthy, how you found her and what her first sign of not being healthy was?

I'd love to help, if I can, but I think we need more info.

 

[Hatrick]

She's nine weeks old and was brought into me by one of my kids saying that she had been grabbed by the wing by one of my other kids. Yes, I have lots of kids.

From that point on, which was four or so days ago she has not been able to stand or walk, she just falls over and rolls around. I took her outside two days ago to see if I could sit with her for a bit outdoors but she panicked and tried to get away to be with the flock. It was a disaster. Every since then she has been mouth breathing exclusively, although still eating and drinking. Hope this helps.

 

[Poultry Couture]

Yes, it's stress. Mine do it too.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

They're made differently than most of us imagine, without havin' studied 'em a bit more closely ... we have diaphrams, whereas they rely upon the movement of their bodies to breathe. And, they have air sacs that ... rather than explaining? There's a really good online interactive presentation of the Anatomy of the Chicken >> peck here << to open it's introductory page in a new window ~'-)

That's gonna help you become familiar w/ what's on the inside, which is clearly where she's hurt. As for worries of pain? They're built very differently in the way that works as well ... they don't suffer nearly so much as we do, just by havin' to watch what hurts us to see.

And, not to be tellin' how to handle your own, but kids 'n pets tend to be accidents in the makin' when it comes to chickens -- they rarely mean to cause 'em any harm.

Another way to figure out what's goin' on is by comparing this one most carefully w/ the way others feel (most esp. if you've got birds of the same breed/sex/age, as folks so often do ~'-)

Some dislocations and fractures can be manipulated, and I'll try 'n walk you through whatever you can find, if I can. Be sure 'n update this thread when you have or need new information.

You should become familiar w/ tube feeding in advance, just in case it comes to that.

Also, you can, and most probably should, give your bird aspirin: Dissolving one baby aspirin into a quart of water would be about the right amount, as the normal solution calls for 5 five-grain tablets per gallon, which is 324 mg/gal. It's to be offered free choice, and result in a daily dosage of about 25 mg/lb of body weight.