Hen suddenly can’t breathe, looking for help

[Jlwarn92]

Hello all, looking for our hen Dumptruck is a 7 month old Easter egger hen. Yesterday I noticed she was making wheezing noises while breathing. There were no other symptoms, no coughing or sneezing. After some research I settled on probably stridor and was going to let it run its course. However this morning she was still making the wheezing noise. Again no sneezing or coughing. I fed her some plain yogurt and egg that she ate all of with no issue. We had to leave for the afternoon. Before we left she was still wheezing but was in a nesting box preparing to lay.

When we got home two hours later I found her in much worse shape. She had layed a normal egg in the nest box but She is now fighting for air. Her comb and wattle are a deep red/purple and she does not appear to have much energy.

I have felt her crop, it is empty and soft. I tried offering yogurt and egg as well as water but she has no interest. Looking for help on what to do for our girl.

We have 5 total hens in a 8x12 ft run. Deep litter method is the bedding, made up of dirt, dried leaves and pine bark mulch, I turn it daily. The have access to food all day and are currently on Natures best organic all flock pellets. They do not free range but are let out under my supervision about an hour a day. No other hens are showing symptoms at the moment. I currently have her isolated on the porch.

We live in central Florida and the weather is sunny and around 90s. Hens have a fan in the run and coop that run during the day and at night.

Photos are how she looks trying to breathe as I can’t figure out how to post a video

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry about your hen. Have you wormed them recently? Worms can affect the breathing, and some I know in FL worm their birds often with Valbazen or SafeGuard. Can you look into her beak and throat for any yellow or gray gunk that might be partially blocking her airway? Does she have any bubbles or foam in either eye, or have you noticed any sneezing, or swollen eyelid? You might try bring her into to a slightly cooler spot. Can she drink water if you hold it in front of her?

 

[Jlwarn92]

Sorry about your hen. Have you wormed them recently? Worms can affect the breathing, and some I know in FL worm their birds often with Valbazen or SafeGuard. Can you look into her beak and throat for any yellow or gray gunk that might be partially blocking her airway? Does she have any bubbles or foam in either eye, or have you noticed any sneezing, or swollen eyelid? You might try bring her into to a slightly cooler spot. Can she drink water if you hold it in front of her?

Thank you so much for the fast response! I just treated our flock at the end of July with Safeguard. I did a five day treatment with .25 per 1/4 pound dosing. I usually don’t treat again for another 6 months. There are no foam or bubbles in her eyes, and looking in her throat I did not see any gunk. She will not take any water at the moment either. I have put it on my fingers and just let drops hit her tongue which will prompt her to swallow. Neither eyelid looks swollen at the moment. She is now having almost violent sneezes that shakes her whole body.

 

[Eggcessive]

Have you added any new birds to the flock in the last month? I hope she gets better. Do you have any Tylosin or other antibiotics? If you should lose her, I would contact the state vet lab in Kissimmee for a necropsy and testing. The body must be kept cold, not frozen. Here is a list with their number:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

 

[Jlwarn92]

Have you added any new birds to the flock in the last month? I hope she gets better. Do you have any Tylosin or other antibiotics? If you should lose her, I would contact the state vet lab in Kissimmee for a necropsy and testing. The body must be kept cold, not frozen. Here is a list with their number:
https://www.metzerfarms.com/poultry-labs.html

We have not added any new birds to the flock but we do have pretty heavy wild bird traffic in our neighborhood. This evening her breathing seems much more even but is still struggling. She did manage to drink some water and a little egg yolk. I am hoping she will get better as well. If not I will look into the necropsy, scary that it came on so suddenly and escalated so fast. I do not have any Tylosen or similar antibiotic on hand unfortunately. We will be checking her through the night and I will update in the morning. Thank you so much again!

 

[Eggcessive]

It would take most of the week to get it, but if you ever need Tylosin, which treats MG and some other things, here is where to find it:
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder
Let us know how she gets along.

 

[Jlwarn92]

It would take most of the week to get it, but if you ever need Tylosin, which treats MG and some other things, here is where to find it:
https://jedds.com/products/tylosin-powder
Let us know how she gets along.

Thank you so much for the website, I went ahead and ordered some last night. She is still with us this morning, but unfortunately not much change. She is taking water and a little bit of wet food. I gave her a little vetrx that I have on hand in a feeble attempt to help. Trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. So far no symptoms in the rest of the flock but monitoring very closely.

 

[Cj Tracker]

Thank you so much for the website, I went ahead and ordered some last night. She is still with us this morning, but unfortunately not much change. She is taking water and a little bit of wet food. I gave her a little vetrx that I have on hand in a feeble attempt to help. Trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. So far no symptoms in the rest of the flock but monitoring very closely.

Did you hen recover? My hen looked like this and I started doxy a few days, prebiotic that I use after that, in their water. My flock got sick with mycoplasma I believe after getting new hens (even after the month quarantined)
It's hard to determine these things sometimes so I'm always learning. I am heartbroken anytime I lose one. I just had one pass this week, stayed apart from the group for a day only, the next morning she was barely breathing and purplish pale comb. I put some gloves on after and checked to see if she had an egg further up, also in her throat for any red streaks or blocks Nothing.

 

[Loving my girls]

Although I can’t offer any advice, I wish you lots of luck and my fingers and toes are crossed for you and your girl, do keep us all informed if you can,

 

[Jlwarn92]

Did you hen recover? My hen looked like this and I started doxy a few days, prebiotic that I use after that, in their water. My flock got sick with mycoplasma I believe after getting new hens (even after the month quarantined)
It's hard to determine these things sometimes so I'm always learning. I am heartbroken anytime I lose one. I just had one pass this week, stayed apart from the group for a day only, the next morning she was barely breathing and purplish pale comb. I put some gloves on after and checked to see if she had an egg further up, also in her throat for any red streaks or blocks Nothing.

I am sad to say that we lost her shortly after my last update. No one else in the flock showed any symptoms or illness so I believe it may have been an isolated case.

It is very heartbreaking to lose them, especially when you can’t always determine what it is or how to help them. Hoping your girl pulls through it!