Respiratory problem that I can’t deduce-

[Blaise N]

Hello BYC!

IM a new member to this forums and i have a small problem I’m dealing with. One of my hens, Lily, is a barred Plymouth Rock who up until 1-1/2 months ago was as healthy as a horse, never had even a case of bumblefoot, and she began to have rales that eventually progressed into gaping. Now fortunately my hens were blessed and Graced with a owner(me) who loves them unconditionally and is very intelligent in caretaking for them.


I keep my hens in a very clean and sanitary living environment.Their coop is spot cleaned(which is me going in and cleaning out only their poop,refreshing their water,and keeping their coop dry and sanitary.)daily, they are given by me monthly health checkups, and I keep them well and nutritional fed and protected from all sorts of problems.

My immediate guess was the weather but when it stabilized after the deep freeze in January it didn’t get better, then I guessed dust and after separating her.it didn’t work. Then I guessed IB which after giving her 1oz of tylosin per 1 gallon of water for a month helped the labored breathing but she was still gaping, then I guessed she has something affecting her airway but not her air system, I listened to her lungs with a stethoscope and no rasps or rattles, her blood content is perfectly fine, her comb isn’t discolored, nor is she losing weight or not eating or drinking.


So my last guess is gapeworm which I ordered flubendazole for and I tried taking the gel capsule pills and putting them on her food. She sneakily was able to avoid eating the food with the medicine and chose to eat around it. So then I called a local farm vet who fortunately is partially specialized in chickens and her assistant came out and helped me hold her and my plan was to try and give her the pill orally, well lo and behold after looking down her throat with a light, I discovered her trachea isn’t in the back of her mouth, her breed has it all the way down her neck! And I knew I’d never be able to give her a pill down her esophagus without choking her. so I poured the pill in small increments into her mouth and let her swallow the medicine, well after two pills in two days she is back at square one with labored breathing and gaping. I’m extremely frustrated because these gapeworms are being incredibly stubborn, and to add I tried looking down her throat and didn’t see any but there’s no other explanation for her gaping.


I ask all this because I care and love her so much and I want her to live a healthy life for at least a few more years if possible. Could anyone offer any advice?

 

[Turkens13]

It sounds like you've been incredibly thorough in diagnosing and treating Lily, and your dedication to her care is impressive! Since you've already ruled out respiratory infections, environmental factors, and successfully treated some symptoms with tylosin, but she's still gaping, let's consider a few possibilities:

1. Gapeworm​

• Flubendazole is effective, but the full treatment course is important. Often, a single dose isn't enough, and it must be repeated according to the instructions (usually over several days).
• Did you try dissolving the powder in water and syringe-feeding it instead? Or mixing it with something irresistible like scrambled eggs or yogurt?
• Sometimes, birds with gapeworm will stretch their necks, shake their heads, or even cough—have you noticed these behaviors?

2. Other Worms or Parasites​

• If she has a high parasite load, she may need a more comprehensive deworming regimen. Consider using Fenbendazole (Safeguard) instead, as it covers a broader spectrum and is often recommended for poultry.

3. Tracheal Obstruction or Damage​

• Since you checked her throat and didn’t see worms, could there be another obstruction? A small foreign object (like a piece of bedding, feed, or even a hardened mucus plug) could be lodged further down.
• Sometimes, scarring or irritation from a previous respiratory infection (even if tylosin helped) can cause lingering symptoms.

4. Aspergillosis (Fungal Infection)​

• Since you're in a cold climate and had a deep freeze, could there have been damp bedding or mold exposure? Aspergillosis is a fungal respiratory infection that antibiotics won’t help.
• Look for signs like wheezing, nasal discharge, or fatigue—though it can be tricky to diagnose.

5. Heart or Air Sac Issues​

• If she’s having trouble breathing but her lungs sound clear, it could be an issue with air sacs or even heart function. Unfortunately, some chickens can develop cardiac problems that affect breathing.

Next Steps:​

1. Continue the Flubendazole treatment properly—it usually takes a full course to kill all stages of the worms.
2. Try another dewormer like Fenbendazole if you suspect a broader worm infestation.
3. Consider fungal infections—if she’s still struggling, an antifungal treatment (like Fluconazole or natural remedies such as oregano extract) might help.
4. Try supportive care—adding electrolytes, probiotics, and soft foods might give her an extra boost.

You're clearly doing everything right! If she’s still not improving in a week or so, a second vet opinion or a fecal test for worms could confirm what’s going on. Keep me posted—I’d love to hear how she’s doing!

 

[Blaise N]

It sounds like you've been incredibly thorough in diagnosing and treating Lily, and your dedication to her care is impressive! Since you've already ruled out respiratory infections, environmental factors, and successfully treated some symptoms with tylosin, but she's still gaping, let's consider a few possibilities:

1. Gapeworm​

• Flubendazole is effective, but the full treatment course is important. Often, a single dose isn't enough, and it must be repeated according to the instructions (usually over several days).
• Did you try dissolving the powder in water and syringe-feeding it instead? Or mixing it with something irresistible like scrambled eggs or yogurt?
• Sometimes, birds with gapeworm will stretch their necks, shake their heads, or even cough—have you noticed these behaviors?

2. Other Worms or Parasites​

• If she has a high parasite load, she may need a more comprehensive deworming regimen. Consider using Fenbendazole (Safeguard) instead, as it covers a broader spectrum and is often recommended for poultry.

3. Tracheal Obstruction or Damage​

• Since you checked her throat and didn’t see worms, could there be another obstruction? A small foreign object (like a piece of bedding, feed, or even a hardened mucus plug) could be lodged further down.
• Sometimes, scarring or irritation from a previous respiratory infection (even if tylosin helped) can cause lingering symptoms.

4. Aspergillosis (Fungal Infection)​

• Since you're in a cold climate and had a deep freeze, could there have been damp bedding or mold exposure? Aspergillosis is a fungal respiratory infection that antibiotics won’t help.
• Look for signs like wheezing, nasal discharge, or fatigue—though it can be tricky to diagnose.

5. Heart or Air Sac Issues​

• If she’s having trouble breathing but her lungs sound clear, it could be an issue with air sacs or even heart function. Unfortunately, some chickens can develop cardiac problems that affect breathing.

Next Steps:​

1. Continue the Flubendazole treatment properly—it usually takes a full course to kill all stages of the worms.
2. Try another dewormer like Fenbendazole if you suspect a broader worm infestation.
3. Consider fungal infections—if she’s still struggling, an antifungal treatment (like Fluconazole or natural remedies such as oregano extract) might help.
4. Try supportive care—adding electrolytes, probiotics, and soft foods might give her an extra boost.

You're clearly doing everything right! If she’s still not improving in a week or so, a second vet opinion or a fecal test for worms could confirm what’s going on. Keep me posted—I’d love to hear how she’s doing!

Thank you so very much for your help! Yes she stretches her neck then opens her mouth, the Flubendazole I use unfortunately isn’t water soluble, it’s a gel capsule, the instructions also suggest giving it in food. Which unfortunately she is also too smart to fall for either

And I can most certainly tell you her coop isn’t moldy, that is a major thing I get extremely OCD about, hence why I always clean the thing, to absolutely keep out mold and germs.i even have a catch pan under their drinker to catch any drips

She hasn’t shown the symptoms of aspergillosis which I also initially was extremely panicked about since to my knowledge there is no cure for ASP.

As for any obstruction or perforation I couldn’t see any.

I have her in a quarantine tent right now,she has everything she could want, food,water, a daily cleaning of the tent,her own dust bath,a nesting pad and a few toys too. She isn’t lethargic,she is eating normally and drinking and is very alert.

 

[Turkens13]

Thank you so very much for your help! Yes she stretches her neck then opens her mouth, the Flubendazole I use unfortunately isn’t water soluble, it’s a gel capsule, the instructions also suggest giving it in food. Which unfortunately she is also too smart to fall for either

And I can most certainly tell you her coop isn’t moldy, that is a major thing I get extremely OCD about, hence why I always clean the thing, to absolutely keep out mold and germs.i even have a catch pan under their drinker to catch any drips

She hasn’t shown the symptoms of aspergillosis which I also initially was extremely panicked about since to my knowledge there is no cure for ASP.

As for any obstruction or perforation I couldn’t see any.

I have her in a quarantine tent right now,she has everything she could want, food,water, a daily cleaning of the tent,her own dust bath,a nesting pad and a few toys too. She isn’t lethargic,she is eating normally and drinking and is very alert.

You're welcome! It sounds like you're doing everything right to keep her comfortable, and it’s clear how much you care about her health. Since she is still eating, drinking, and active, that's definitely a good sign. You’re giving her the best care possible, and sometimes the path to the right treatment can just take some time and patience.
Regarding the Flubendazole, I understand the challenge with the gel capsules. You might try to crush the capsules (if that’s an option with this particular medicine) and mix it with a strong-smelling food that she can't resist, like scrambled eggs or tuna. Sometimes adding a little bit of liquid from a chicken broth can help mask the taste and texture.
You’ve also mentioned that you've ruled out things like aspergillosis and any obstructions or perforations, which is great. It’s a huge relief to know she’s not showing the symptoms of something as serious as that. The fact that she has a clean, non-moldy environment is definitely key in keeping her respiratory system safe.
Since you mentioned she is still very alert, not lethargic, and continues to eat and drink normally, it’s encouraging that she’s staying strong despite the symptoms. If the gapeworm treatment hasn’t fully worked yet, there might still be another underlying cause that needs a little more targeted treatment. If you haven't already, maybe asking your vet about Ivermectin or Fenbendazole (if you haven’t tried them) could be worth exploring next, especially since she seems to be getting smarter about avoiding the Flubendazole.
It seems like you’re on top of everything, and it can just take time to find the right approach. Lily is lucky to have an owner like you who’s so diligent and loving in her care. Hopefully, she’ll be feeling better soon!