Storm is a 5 month old Andalusian pullet, normal weight. She has not laid an egg yet, and eats starter crumbles, and the occasional stolen layer pellet. She sleeps in a coop at night, with pine shavings for bedding. She free ranges during the day.
She was perfectly healthy last night, seemed just fine this morning. This afternoon, I noticed that she was laying under the deck, making odd sounds. The sounds were wheezing, I suppose, it almost sounds like a song, but it is with every inhalation and every exhalation of her breath. Almost as if she were snoring.
I wanted to examine her, so I took out treats. All the chickens came running, except Storm. She just laid there. That made me really worried! So I crawled under the deck, collected her and brought her inside. I can find no injuries on her anywhere. I have looked down her throat with a flashlight. Nothing unusual that I can see. There is no drainage from her nostrils. Nor are they plugged. Her eyes look fine also.
She has not drunk any water on her own since she has been inside, although I dipped her beak in water and she drank a little. Her poo was normal, maybe a bit on the dry side.
I fed her a few pieces of bread soaked in oil. No real change. So I put some oil in a syringe and dribbled it in her mouth. She swallowed it, and it seemed to help a bit. The wheezing is not as loud as it was. My husband massaged her throat and crop. Also, oddly enough, he held her body sort of upside down with her head down below, and the wheezing stopped. But started back up when she was in a normal position. Also, occasionally she makes a strange sort of sneezing sound. Like a dog's bark, really.
Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with Storm, and what I could do to help her? Taking her to the vet is not an option.
Thanks in advance. Any help is truly appreciated.
She was perfectly healthy last night, seemed just fine this morning. This afternoon, I noticed that she was laying under the deck, making odd sounds. The sounds were wheezing, I suppose, it almost sounds like a song, but it is with every inhalation and every exhalation of her breath. Almost as if she were snoring.
I wanted to examine her, so I took out treats. All the chickens came running, except Storm. She just laid there. That made me really worried! So I crawled under the deck, collected her and brought her inside. I can find no injuries on her anywhere. I have looked down her throat with a flashlight. Nothing unusual that I can see. There is no drainage from her nostrils. Nor are they plugged. Her eyes look fine also.
She has not drunk any water on her own since she has been inside, although I dipped her beak in water and she drank a little. Her poo was normal, maybe a bit on the dry side.
I fed her a few pieces of bread soaked in oil. No real change. So I put some oil in a syringe and dribbled it in her mouth. She swallowed it, and it seemed to help a bit. The wheezing is not as loud as it was. My husband massaged her throat and crop. Also, oddly enough, he held her body sort of upside down with her head down below, and the wheezing stopped. But started back up when she was in a normal position. Also, occasionally she makes a strange sort of sneezing sound. Like a dog's bark, really.
Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with Storm, and what I could do to help her? Taking her to the vet is not an option.
Thanks in advance. Any help is truly appreciated.
