URGENT - hen struggling to breath - Gape Worm?

[seminolewind]

Hi. I'm sorry about the hen. And your daughter. I went thru something like that when mine was 11. Even tho I didn't think that much of her pet, she was quite attached, and I had to put my thoughts aside for her sake and used the illness of her pet as a reason to teach her that Every life is important, and worth the effort to save.

 

[Ksane]

I've been dealing with an e. coli outbreak which manifests itself in several ways. Enteritis (intestional), septicemia (in the blood) and respiratory-such as airsaculitis which is probably what your hen had. Not all chickens get sick when exposed. When it moves into their air sacs it can literally take as little as 3 hours. Most die before we really even realize they're sick. I guess it *could've been gapeworms, but it's rather doubtful. It certainly sounds like airsaculitis but then airsaculitis can come about because of a number of different diseases (not only e.coli). The prognosis is poor. This is all via my vet who has worked with me concerning this e.coli outbreak.
Never ever trust only the clerk at the feed store, only the chicken owner at the grocery store or even just fellow posters on a forum (like now). Do your own reading, asking and learning.
Edit: I would be inclined to think it might be aspiration pneumonia also if not for the fact this was the 2nd chicken showing respiratory signs.

 

[chicken grandma]

Yes, I had a chicken showing these symptoms and I saved it using the antibiotics. When in doubt, give the antibiotic. It won't hurt.
My chicken, still living, had pneumonia from e. coli.