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[Minnie&Moose]

This afternoon one of our hens suddenly began sneezing very loudly and repeatedly for about 5 mins. The sneezing stopped and she continued scratching around. A few minutes later I saw her sitting down, her sides heaving and her beak gaping - she looked and sounded very distressed. When I picked her up her breathing was very laboured and she sounded quite rattly. The only thing I could think of, given the apparent rapid onset of her symptoms, was that perhaps there was a problem with the wood chippings I'd put down in the run the previous day. So we moved all hens onto another part of the garden. Magda continued to have violent sneezing fits and her comb went very purple at one point - I did think she might die. The other birds appeared OK but a few of them were sneezing intermittently but no obvious signs of nasal discharge. However, they all drank lots of water and kept returning to the water bowl.

 

Magda improved greatly over the afternoon, and was eating and drinking OK by late afternoon, and has now gone to bed. However, while her breathing looks fine, she still sounds a little rattly when I put my eat to her back. I will check her again tomorrow morning and I guess take her to the vet if she's not back to normal.

 

Has anyone else had a similar experience? This particular woodchip came from a local tree surgeon, and was chipped very recently (within the last week). When I dug further into the pile (not all has gone in the chicken run) what looked like a cloud of smoke was released. I'm assuming this was actually fungal spores since the woodchip didn't feel excessively warm. I didn't notice any of this when I was working with it yesterday. Needless to say I feel awful - I don't know whether I've caused Magda and the others permanent damage or not.

Edited March 21, 2011 by Guest

[gongladosh]

You won't have caused permanent damage but a trip to the vets (for all hens exposed to it) would be a very good idea.

 

It's likely to be bacterial infection caused by Mycoplasma. Typically you'll get rattly breathing (possibly breathing through an open beak), sneezing and often bubbles around the eyes.

 

It's easy to treat if you go to the vet soon enough.

 

We had the same issue with two of ours last year following some iffy-looking woodchip from B&Q, they were fine after a week of antibiotics.

[staceychristie]

Is it dust extracted wood chips? They are very prone to dust which is airbourne, and if it's damp/wet/fresh, then it can cause them problems. We use Hemcore (from equine shop and it smells lovely and lasts for 4 - 9 months)We've had a sneezing/hooting hen, that used to go off after having corn... she'd woof it down, then guess it got stuck. She's more careful now

 

Good luck, Stacey

[Plum]

Sensitivity would cause inflamation and sneezing but I doubt the rattling. I think it sounds like an infection and a trip to vet and antibiotics would sort it out.

 

If you don't treat respiratory infection then you can get associated inflamation in the laying tract and subsequent problems so I would get it treated.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks for your replies. Magda and I are off to the vet in a few minutes.

[Minnie&Moose]

Took Magda and Mona, who was also looking under the weather this morning, to the vet. The vet agreed that, given the very sudden onset, the lack of nasal discharge, swollen sinuses etc, and the fact that both birds looked healthy, other than their breathing problems (which come and go) it didn't look like an infection but a reaction to something environmental - probably the new woodchip.

 

So, all birds are now on baytril to protect against any secondary bacterial infection (5 out of 6 were looking under the weather this morning), the vet's consulting with an avian specialist to see if there's anything further that can/should be done, and we have to try and keep them eating and drinking and out in the fresh air as much as possible, and just hope that Magda and the others recover . In the meantime I have approx. half a tonne of woodchip to shift by hand and dispose of, and then will dig over their pen, reseed with poultry ley, and rest for 6 months. Hopefully that will clear any remaining harmful spores. I guess I'll be going back to buying specialist woodchip for children's play areas to cope with the mud.

[Jools]

I think you've been particularly unlucky if a load of fresh woochip contains the fungus Aspergillus but I guess it's not impossible as it's in the air that we breath. A big heap of woodchip does get warm and start to break down very quickly, which probably explains the cloud you witnessed. I'll confess to being a regular user of woodchip and will keep my fingers crossed while touching wood when I say I've not had a problem with it yet. I hope your chickens make a rapid recovery.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Jools. The rational part of me recognises this is probably a very unlucky incident, but I still feel lousy about it All 6 birds are still with us this evening which I guess is positive - looks like everyone but Magda have full crops. I did see her drink though so at least she's not given up entirely.

[daisymay]

This is really interesting. I put down some wood shavings my father gave me from some oak beams he had been planing. I put down several sacks over a month or so. I hadn't put any down in the last week or so but still one of my hens is looking peaky this evening. I have put her to roost in the cat box in my shed so will see how she is in the morning.

Feel really bad now as I put down a load of shavings after I'd isolated her to soak up the ground mud in the run.

Will ring the vet in the morning I think.

Hope your girls are OK soon

[Minnie&Moose]

Hi daisymay,

 

Sorry to hear your hen's not well. I think we've been unlucky with our woodchip problem so I wouldn't assume that all woodchip or shavings would cause a problem. The hen that was worst affected initially is breathing much more easily but obviously not feeling 100%. She's not foraging or moving around as much as she usually does but she did scoff some scrambled egg and corn earlier this evening - so she's not given up yet. Unfortunately the top hen is looking miserable suddenly but it's possible she's going to produce a soft egg - I'm keeping an eye on her and will check her over very carefully in the morning to see how things are then. Hope your hen's looking better tomorrow.

[Jools]

Daisymay, if the shavings were from untreated Oak beams, they honestly should not be a problem. It's most likely a coincidence that your hen is off colour and I hope she'll be over her peakiness soon.

[Minnie&Moose]

Following on from the woodchip saga yesterday our top hen was very miserable, sitting around and sleeping all day (having been OK when I first let them out. I checked, concerned that she might also have a breathing problem, but that seemed OK. Instead her crop was very squishy and although her breath wasn't foul smelling, it did smell a bit. Having read the thread about sour crop I checked her again this morning at 6am, found her crop was no longer squishy, but it felt fairly full and hard, especially compared with those of the other hens. So, I separated her from the others, and took her food away (left her some water - they're all currently on Baytril). I've just checked her crop now and it feels almost empty, so I've let her back in with everyone else to see how she goes. They're currently on the remains of very short grass and they have only layers pellets and water available.

 

My question is, can I assume that yesterday was just a coincidental 'blip' or should I be doing something else to help make sure she doesn't develop a problem? I'm probably just being overly anxious because of the recent previous event but I'd like to make sure I'm not doing anything that might create or exacerbate a problem. Must admit I don't feel very confident or competent at the moment

[The Dogmother]

I'd just keep an eye on her - antibiotics can cause sour crop as they upset the natural flora of the crop and gut. I'd add some probiotic powder like AviPro or the Crossgates one to the water and kepe an eye on her. if she looks dodgy again then report back and give her some Nutri-Drops to perk her up.

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Claret. Is it OK to add the Avipro to the water that already has Baytril in? And do you think it's worth doing this for all of them as a preventative/protective measure (they're all on Baytril delivered via drinking water)?

[Jools]

I'd wait til they've finished their meds and then treat them to a bit of live yoghurt to restore the balance.

 

They're doing their very best to worry you aren't they!

[The Dogmother]

Yes you can, or you can add it to a wet mash. It's beneficial to them all - a bit like us humans drinking probiotic drinks when we have a tummy upset or are taking antibs.

[Minnie&Moose]

I'd wait til they've finished their meds and then treat them to a bit of live yoghurt to restore the balance.

 

They're doing their very best to worry you aren't they!

Too right! Just when I was beginning to think I was getting the hang of this chicken malarky as well. They're turning me into a nervous wreck

[Minnie&Moose]

Yes you can, or you can add it to a wet mash. It's beneficial to them all - a bit like us humans drinking probiotic drinks when we have a tummy upset or are taking antibs.

 

Many thanks Claret. I'll go and do that now.

[The Dogmother]

Do you have enough Avipro/probiotic? If not give me a shout

[Minnie&Moose]

Thanks Claret, I'm fine for Avipro. All birds seem much better than previously, and the hen with the dodgy crop is looking more like her usual self .

[The Dogmother]

That sounds good