chickens roosting in trees

[helenmb]

I noticed when I let my girls out this morning that my usually boisterous Amber Star was a bit lethargic, she is usually first to the food in the mornings and in asserting her top chook status too. As it was before 7am I watched her for a bit and thought that maybe it was a bit early for her and that she would perk up (is a bit of a miserable day here).

 

Anyway, been out a couple of times to see her since, still looking a bit miserable, she is usually waiting at the gate to greet me but stayed put. I thought that maybe she had an impacted crop so picked her up - she was still well enough to make a run for it however!

 

Anyway, crop seems empty but I can hear a slight wheezy/rattle when she is breathing (sounds a bit like a very quiet cat purr). Oddly, I noticed this last night when I took a peek at them in the cube but just thought it was one of them doing a snoozy chicken coo (like doves) but it looks like it must have been Blanche.

 

She has had a little 'bubbly sounding' cough when I was massaging her crop (just a couple), so sounds a bit damp. No neck stretching though (thought gapeworm first) but they have been on Flubenvet since Monday as I have just got some new girls and wasn't sure if they'd been wormed recently.

 

I have noticed the odd sneeze from a couple of the girls (newbie and an older girl but not my wheezy girl). So maybe its just a cold. Although of course I so hope its nothing viral that could get passed on to them all?

 

There is Citricidal in their water and Avipro too. I have seen her take a drink this morning so I know she's had a bit of fluid.

 

Anyone got any suggestions - sorry for such a long message but just wanted to let you know of all the possibilities and what they are currently have supplement/wormer wise. I think the vet isn't now open until Monday so just wanted to have all bases covered in case you think its a trip first thing Monday. Hoping its just a bit of a cold but never exerienced this before since keeping hens for the last 2.5 years.

[Egluntyne]

Sounds like she might need to see a vet....she could have a chest infection.

 

A bit of Citricidal in her drinking water may help a little, but is no replacement for antibiotics.

[helenmb]

Thanks Egluntine, this is what I was thinking too. Will see how she fairs today, have just been out and have got her to eat a bit of food and some cucumber and some yoghurty bokashi mash. Can't hear the wheezing at the moment much so hoping its nothing too serious. I always worry when they don't appear to be 'themselves' (substitute children I suppose!).

 

If anyone else has experience anything similar I'd still be interested in hearing as couldn't find much on the forum. My chicken health book always makes every sympton sound like a serious disease too .

[Daphne]

keep an eye on her but if she is still rattly take her to the vet on Monday. Back in the summer one of ours had severe rattling one morning; so bad I thought it would be curtains. However, 2 courses of Baytril later (ie about a week) she was fine. The other 2 with her caught it as well so all 3 were treated. Since then, one of them was a bit down in the dumps with a closed eye, lethargic and slightly laboured breathing. I watched her for a day or 2, but decided she needed treatment - got the Baytril again and it worked. There are other antibiotics as well of course. Ours were given by syringe and it was pretty straightforward.

[helenmb]

Thanks Daphne - have just been out to check on her again this morning. She seems a bit perkier and is eating and drinking (she did lay an egg yesterday so I thought that seemer promising?). Still a tiny bit of a noise when breathing but can only hear it when I pick her up or she is inside the cube. Went to check on them at 10.30 pm last night (as I'd been out singing at a rememberance concert) and could hear her then. Just sounds like a faint snory sound. If there is any doubt tomorrow first thing its off for some antibiotics as I don't want the other 6 to catch anything.