Wheezing adult pullet that otherwise looks healthy

[shaila]

Savannah is one of my 6mo (26wk) easter egger pullets. She's had a raspy (almost duckish) voice since she matured from a peeping chick, but today is the first time she seems to have a problem with breathing.

When I released the chickens to the yard this morning, I didn't notice anything unusual. A few hours later, after a brief downpour (the chickens took cover and stayed dry), I went to check on the girls. I realized then that Savannah wasn't "talking" as much, frequently sneezing, and once I got in close, I could hear a faint wheezing. I immediately brought her inside to be looked over and the rasping and frequent sneezing are the only things that really stand out. Her eyes still look pretty clear to me and the nostrils are somewhat dirty but pretty dry. She's still active, not lethargic. She was willing to eat and I did observe her drinking earlier. Her poop looks normal and while she hasn't laid an egg yet today, she has been laying consistent, normal eggs up to yesterday.

None of the other chickens are displaying any problems. So I presume either they're not sick (yet) or they haven't progressed to observable symptoms.

At this point, I can only figure to just keep her secluded and keep offering food/water until something changes (hopefully in positive direction). But I figure maybe people with more experience could chime in with thoughts.

 

[50-45-1]

Read up on gapeworm and see if the symptoms fit.
She could have eaten something that is stuck somewhere. Is she still eating and drinking?
The other possibility is respiratory infection but your hen does not have all the symptoms.
Keep us updated.

 

[shaila]

Read up on gapeworm and see if the symptoms fit.
She could have eaten something that is stuck somewhere. Is she still eating and drinking?
The other possibility is respiratory infection but your hen does not have all the symptoms.
Keep us updated.

It doesn't seem like she's trying to dislodge something or really gasping for air. Just wheezy. Kind of reminds me of being a person with postnasal drip. She is drinking and occasionally eating. I did a swabbing of her throat (not fun for either of us but she seemed to get over it fast) and didn't see anything on the fibers.
I stopped by TSC today and picked up VetRx, as I found some suggestions that it could soothe respiratory discomfort. Put some on her head, under her wings, and a couple drops in one of her water dishes. I don't know if it's working, she might be sneezing less, but the wheezing seems to be tied to stress level. She's almost normal when totally relaxed, but the wheezing picks up again when she gets excited.

 

[shaila]

I took Savannah outside to get some fresh air and she proceeded to attempt hiding and took a turn for the worse. Went from a slight wheezing to unable to do anything but gasp. I looked down her throat again, with no resistance at all this time, and still didn't see anything.
I had decided earlier that I wanted to take her to a vet, but the only place nearby that does avian medical care is closed on weekends. Unfortunately, she didn't make it to the night and passed away.
The other flock members still look healthy, so that's some good news. I'm going to try figure out what I need to do to get a necropsy done on Savannah though, hopefully get a better idea of what happened.

 

[Sullysul]

I’m sorry for your loss. One of my girls started to sound like that yesterday but no other symptoms. How long from when the symptoms started until she passed?

 

[shaila]

I’m sorry for your loss. One of my girls started to sound like that yesterday but no other symptoms. How long from when the symptoms started until she passed?

Just about two whole days. I'm hoping your girl gets better.

 

[shaila]

I've received the completed report from state lab. Basically looks like something went wrong with egg production and yolk ended up where it doesn't belong.

The summaries of findings:

The abdomen contained a small amount of thick yellow fluid consistent with egg yolk. The abdominal air sac was yellowish and slightly foamy. The outer surfaces of the intestine and mesentery were stained with the watery yolk. The oviduct contained a soft, shellless egg. The ovary contained 3 primary follicles that had moderately reddened (congested) outer membrane. The spleen had multifocal red foci (congestion) on the outer surface (capsule). No significant gross lesions were observed in any other organs or tissues.

Mesentery and Air sac: Peritonitis and air sacculitis, histiocytic, diffuse, marked with intralesional yolk materials
Intestine: Serositis, hstiocytic, moderate, diffuse
Lung: Yolk pneumonia, fibrinogranulomatous, multifocal, moderate

The gross and histologic lesions are consistent with marked egg yolk peritonitis in this hen. Egg peritonitis is one of the most common causes of sporadic mortality in laying hens. The peritonitis occurred due to reverse peristalsis of eggs from the oviduct to the coelom with subsequent inflammatory response.
No significant bacterial pathogens were isolated from aerobic culture of liver, ovary, and oviduct. The hen was also tested for Avian Influenza virus, Newcastle Disease virus, Avibacterium paragallinarum (causal agent for infectious coryza), and Mycoplasma spp., and found negative for these pathogens.