Upper Respiratory Going Downhill

[2150MormonRd]

I have a 4.5 month old Cream Legbar. Two days ago I found her limp in one of the nesting boxes. She had eaten only an hour before normally. I brought her inside and she was really lethargic. Gave some electrolyte/ vitamin water. By that evening, she had perked up and ate some raw egg and more electrolytes. Yesterday, the panting began. No eating, not much drinking. I used some VetRx as well and wormed her thinking it could be gapeworm because she had no sneezing or coughing. Just a low honking cluck. Today, tail drooping, holding wings out, panting. Will not eat. I started her yesterday on docxycycline in the water but today she will only drink the electrolyte water. Only watery poop. Did peck and eat some feed today as she would not touch the egg yolk. She's been wiping and scratching her face and I did see clear fluid today. Still not sneezing, coughing or anything else. Just panting and so very sick. She seems to be perky in the morn and at night..really bad mid day. What can I do? No one else is sick. One has only some head shaking and yawning. Still eating like a horse. That;s my Bielefelder who is her bff. I wormed her thinking gapes.

How to proceed???? I'm a new chicken mom. And no vets in sight.

 

[M Brennen]

I would just keep her warm, separated, and keep trying to get her to eat, aside from all the things you have been doing. Maybe others have a suggestion as to what is going on with her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just a low honking cluck. Today, tail drooping, holding wings out, panting. Will not eat. I started her yesterday on docxycycline in the water but today she will only drink the electrolyte water. Only watery poop.

She's been wiping and scratching her face and I did see clear fluid today. Still not sneezing, coughing or anything else. Just panting and so very sick.

No one else is sick. One has only some head shaking and yawning. Still eating like a horse.

How long have you had her?
Can you get a video of her actions (and of the other one too) - upload video to youtube and provide a link.

Photos of her poop if possible.

Feel their crops - are they empty, full, fluid filled, etc.?
Anything inside their beaks - lesions, yellow or white pasty material?
What do you feed?

What did you use for a de-wormer?

 

[2150MormonRd]

I will try to get video today.

Safeguard paste for wormer. Crop empty on the sick one, full on the other. No lesions, no mucus, no yellow or pasty. Clean beaks. I've had them both since 2 weeks old. Both are 4.5 months old now.
This morning she was eating feed and drinking. I made electrolytes and put the medication in it. And applied VetRx. She began to call when I left. I suppose that's a good sign.
Still beak wiping and preening. The other outside (Bielefelder) ate normally this morning. She's a horse of an eater anyway.

I'll update later. Thanks!

 

[2150MormonRd]

Update: SO very frustrated and now really at a loss.

She is eating small amounts of feed. Will not eat any egg at all. No sneezing. No coughing. No runny nose. No gurgles. Low clucking. Will only drink water and electrolytes. Will not drink anything with antibiotic in it. And in between sips of water and nibbles of feed. PANTS and holds her wings out. Like this.

I was thinking maybe it was the VETRX that I put under her wings. Maybe its irritating? SO I stopped. Still doing this. Still depressed. Still panting. Has been wormed with Safeguard two days ago.

Poops are less watery now and have some substance since she has started to slightly nibble at feed....how long does this go on? She's not worse. But not much better either. I worry she will weaken from lack of food. NO sores, NO swelling, no limping.

The video is from Saturday night.

The pic was yesterday afternoon.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would re-check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight, take out her food/water tonight and then check her crop to see if it's flat/empty after a night's sleep.

 

[Eggcessive]

It is best to give antibiotic orally, or at least in a tiny amount of food or water. Chickens can swallow good size tablets and capsules. Medicating water can cause them notto want to drink.

Vet Rx is nothing but camphor (think Vicks) and several herbal oils, such as rosemary, oregano, pine oil. Nothing in it will cure a respiratory disease.

 

[2150MormonRd]

I would re-check her crop to make sure it's emptying overnight, take out her food/water tonight and then check her crop to see if it's flat/empty after a night's sleep.

She eats so very little...there is nothing in there :-( She does poop overnight. I can maybe try in the morning as she is eating this evening pretty well. I figured let her eat if she's willing. I've given her plain water and she seems to want that most. This is just a conundrum because the only symptom she has now is occasional panting. Its 68 in my dry basement.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She eats so very little...there is nothing in there :-( She does poop overnight. I can maybe try in the morning as she is eating this evening pretty well. I figured let her eat if she's willing. I've given her plain water and she seems to want that most. This is just a conundrum because the only symptom she has now is occasional panting. Its 68 in my dry basement.

Have you de-wormed her or treated for Coccidiosis?
If possible, getting a fecal float through your vet would be best so you would know whether to treat or not.

 

[2150MormonRd]

Sad Update:

We went to the avian vet tonight. He radiographed her and found a huge mass that was preventing her breathing and eating. I made the decision to put her down. Necropsy revealed Avian Leukosis. He said she was filled with cancer at 4.5 months old. And now my entire flock is exposed.
I am a first time chicken owner with 6 -- 7 mo olds, 1 --19 week old and 2 --17 week olds.
This is kind of devastating.