Respiratory disease or something else?

Shamo123

Chirping
Dec 14, 2015
128
14
81
England
For the past 10 days or so one of my hens has started making a gurgling/rattling sound. I think this started when i put her in a broody cage (cage off raised from floor), she was wearing pinless peepers at the time.

Now i automatically i assumed she had developed a respiratory infection and isolated her from the rest of the flock. However what is making me question my original diagnosis is the fact that she actually doesn't do this all the time! I can hold her beak to my ear and her breathing sounds perfect.

Anyone have any idea what is the cause of this part time rattle? She doesn't make any sound when sleeping or enjoying herself outside her cage in the garden either.
 

Eggcessive

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I would feel of her crop to check if it is empty, partly full, soft, hard, or puffy like a balloon. Chickens can suffer from an impacted or sour crop where the crop is not emptying properly overnight. That can make them sound rattly. Respiratory diseases can cause gasping or labored open-beak breathing. wheezing or rattles, watery eyes, nasal secretions, and coughing/sneezing. There may be one or more symptoms. Here are a couple of articles to read about crop problems and one on the common respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis, mycoplasma (MG,) and coryza:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
 

Shamo123

Chirping
Dec 14, 2015
128
14
81
England
I would feel of her crop to check if it is empty, partly full, soft, hard, or puffy like a balloon. Chickens can suffer from an impacted or sour crop where the crop is not emptying properly overnight. That can make them sound rattly. Respiratory diseases can cause gasping or labored open-beak breathing. wheezing or rattles, watery eyes, nasal secretions, and coughing/sneezing. There may be one or more symptoms. Here are a couple of articles to read about crop problems and one on the common respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis, mycoplasma (MG,) and coryza:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...d-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments.67194/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/04/answers-from-chicken-vet-on-impacted.html
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
Her crop didn't feel unusual, fairly soft but nothing out of the ordinary. She does gasp but she has done so for a long time now and she's not the only one, i couldn't find anything else wrong with them so just stopped worrying about it. No nasal discharge, water eyes though. A few sneezes today but that was straight after dust/dirt was flying around her face.

From what i know about respiratory diseases is it should affect the breathing full time right and you should be able to hear the rattle when holding it to your ear right? I'm just wondering if i even need to keep her isolated especially if it's not a contagious disease (e.g respiratory) as it will be harder to reintegrate her in to the flock the longer she stays away.

Thanks for the links, they seem very detailed and thorough!
 

Glenda Heywoodo

Songster
Dec 19, 2016
1,007
152
126
Cassville Missouri
CRD-Chronic Respiratory Disease in Chickens-Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG)
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Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) is a bacteria-like organism that causes respiratory disease primarily in chickens and turkeys but it can also infect gamebirds, pigeons, ducks, geese, peafowl and wild birds. MG infection in chickens is also known as Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD, and chickens who are exposed to it will carry the disease for the rest of their lives even if (after treatment) they do not show signs of it anymore. Birds who have been exposed or recovered from MG should not be used as breeding stoc. "MG does not make people sick and eating eggs from infected birds will not hurt you. Do not use eggs from birds that have been treated with antibiotics" (1).
How to tell if your chickens have CRD

Mild Lesions
Coughing
Sneezing
Rales
Difficulty breathing
Foamy eyes
Reduced growth rate
Loss of egg production
MG can be more severe when combined with other diseases such as bronchitis, Newcastle disease, and Ecoli.

"While mortality from MG tends to be low in adult birds, it can be as high as 30% in chickens that are infected with other respiratory viruses or E.coli. Birds that recover may still be infectious (carriers) of MG, and may show no signs of disease until stressed" (See reference 1). See Causes and treatments for CRD below.
Causes-How Chickens Get MG
MG cannot survive long without a host (your chicken) but can survive long enough to contaminate your entire flock.
High dust content in chicken coop or poultry houses
Infected chickens can give the disease their baby chicks, through eggs
Breeding with and infected mate
Can be spread through body secretions
  • Nasal discharges
  • Eye discharges
  • Fecal matter (chicken poop)
Contaminated egg flats, equipment, cages, tools which have been exposed to contaminated feces (chicken poop)
Can be spread from respiratory secretions (snot) from infected birds in feed, water, and on surfaces
Contaminated feed and water drinkers
Poultry shows, auctions, and swap meets have been associated with MG outbreaks
"MG-infected birds can also spread the disease to clean flocks. People that work with other live birds can also bring back MG to their poultry operations on their person, clothing, footwear and equipment. People can harbor MG inside their noses for days" (1).
How to Prevent & Control MG

Start your flock with disease free birds from known MG free flocks
Practice Biosecurity to keep MG out. (Wear shoe coverings, do not allow vehicles on your property, wear clean aprons, face masks, and gloves).
Keep wild birds away from your chickens
Keep rodents (mice, rats, etc.) away from your chickens
If you visit other birds be sure to change your clothing, foot wear, and wear a mask for a few days when going back around your own birds.
Vaccinate show birds and valuable breeder birds annually (once a year) and monthly right before scheduled shows or onset of lay.
Minimize your contact with other flocks.
Serious breeders use Dipping hatching eggs in an antibiotic cold-water bath subsequent MG testing, and strict culling of infected offspring to prevent exposure to MG.
"Be sure to check state regulations if you use a live MG vaccine. Quarantine new additions to the flock or show birds immediately after a show for at least 4 weeks before mixing them with the entire flock" (1).
Treatment for MG
"Birds that are infected with MG remain carriers of the disease throughout their lives.
Some antibiotics such as Tylosin or tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones (available by prescription through a licensed veterinarian) can reduce clinical symptoms but will not completely eliminate MG. More importantly, some antibiotics cannot be used for birds raised for meat and eggs. Even if birds have been treated with antibiotics, they can still spread MG to other birds. Harvesting (or culling??) meat birds may be better than treating them because treatment can be expensive. Weigh the costs and benefits of maintaining a flock with MG (which may require the continuous use of antibiotics) or depopulating the infected flocks followed by thoroughly cleaning and disinfecting the facilities and equipment and starting fresh with an MG-free flock. Practice strict biosecurity to keep your flock MG-free" (1).

Treating the Chicken Coop for MG
While your chickens are being treated for MG you should remove all chickens from the coop for one week. Clean and disinfect the chicken coop (preferably with bleach) floors, roosts, walls, ceilings, nest boxes, and any place that the chickens have contact with. Allow several days for the coop to air out before returning your non infected birds or new birds to it.

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Glenda Heywoodo

Songster
Dec 19, 2016
1,007
152
126
Cassville Missouri

From Glenda Heywood
Here is what your flock needs to help fertility and hatchability:

WET MASH PROBIOTIC RECIPE FOR CHICKENS WITH ANY HEALTH PROBLEMS

...
WET MASH PROBIOTIC RECIPE FOR YOUR CHICKENS HEALTH.

ACV by Bragg's is sold by Amazon and at Walmart. (remember to get Bragg's as it has the "brown mother" in the bottom of the bottle.)
My Daughter JoAnna Mertz feeds this wet mash probiotic several times a week to our 10 hens, 5 buff orpingtons 5plymouth rocks, and they are eating it up in 30 minutes.

To make the WET MASH PROBIOTIC RECIPE HERE IT IS
(A) TAKE 2 CUPS OF DRY CRUMBLES OR PELLETS,
(B) 1 TSP OF DRY FLAX SEED MEAL (THAT IS FOR HUMANS)
(C) PUT 4 CUPS OF MILK ANY KIND SOUR OR FRESH, 1 tbsp of dry flax seed meal,
(D) AND 2 TBSP OF THE BRAGG;S ACV.
(E) ALSO 1 /2CUP OF UNFLAVORED YOUGART.
(D) MIX GOOD. PUT IT IN GLASS CONTAINER, AND KEEP ON THE COUNTER OVER NIGHT.
(E) IF IN THE MORNING YOU CAN ADD ANOTHER CUP OF MILK TO THE MIX TO MAKE IT SOLUBLE, like cookie dough, not soupy,
(F) DO NOT MAKE IT SOUPY AS CHICKENS DO NOT LIKE IT SOUPY.
(G) IF THE MIX IS OKAY IN THE MORNING AND NOT TOO DRY FEED IT IN THE GLASS CONTAINER SO ALL THE CHICKENS CAN GET TO IT.
(H) I USED 2 VERY LARGE GLASS PIE PLATES. AND THEN CLEAN THE PIE PLATES BY BRING THEM BACK TO THE HOUSE.
(I) FEED THIS AMOUNT TO EACH CHICKEN 3 tbsp of mix when wet, so make your recipe to fit all amount of chickens to be fed.
(J) WHEN MIXING FOR 1 CHICKEN DO THISIE: take 3 tbsp of dry feed and add 6 tbsp of milk, 1/4 tsp of dry flax seed meal, 1 tbsp of yougart plain kind, 1 tsp ACV,
(K) nOW IF THE CHICKEN ISSICK ADD THIS TO THE WET MASH PROBIOTIC RECIPE
(L) 1 Vit E capsule buy cutting end of capsule off and squeezing it into the wet mix.
(M) 1-Vit B tablet crushed in table spoon and add a little water to disolve crushed tablet and then add to wet mash
(N) 1- Selenium tablet crushed in tbsp and add little water to it and then add to wwet mash.
(O) now mx good and feed sick chuicken evey day for 7 days
(P) now feed it 5 times for second week.
(P) then 2 times a week frlife.
(Q) feed all healthy chickens 2 times a week for life WITH VITAMINS ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS.
 

Glenda Heywoodo

Songster
Dec 19, 2016
1,007
152
126
Cassville Missouri
IMPACTED CROP AND CANKER AND WHAT DO ABOUT THESE CHICKEN PROBLEMS

The crop is a part of the oesophagus (food pipe) where the initial stages of digestion can occur. The crop is found at the base of the neck where you can sometimes feel the contents whether they are food, grit or water.

There are two common conditions of the crop: crop impaction and sour crop.

Crop impaction is where there is a problem with either the crop or the proventriculus (the stomach) where food fails to move from the crop to the stomach. There are two potential causes for this obstruction, either there is a foreign body which is blocking the passage of food such as string/plastic or long grass or the second possible cause can occur when the normal muscular contractions fail and movement of food is prevented from passing into the digestive system. Such causes can be problems with the nervous system which controls the muscular contractions; one such condition is Mareks disease.

These birds present as dull, with little or no appetite, and have a firm impacted crop.

The treatment can involve giving the bird supportive care such as fluids and hoping that the problem resolves itself but ideally surgery under a local anaesthetic to remove the offending material followed by washing the inside of the crop with sterile saline is recommended.

If your chicken has an enlarged crop it is important to ensure it has not recently eaten as after feeding, chickens often have an enlarged crop which shrinks back down as the food is digested. If you think your chicken has an impaction, monitor the size of its crop over several hours to prevent unnecessary surgery.

If the obstruction is not caused by a foreign body but instead by motility problems, then even with surgery the condition can reoccur.

Prevention is as always much better than the cure. Prevent your chickens from accessing foreign materials such as string/plastic and your birds are not given access to very long grass. It is important that adequate grit is provided for your birds to help digest the feed and grass ingested.

ORAL CANKER

Canker is a condition mostly associated with pigeons and is caused by a tiny parasite called trichomonas. This parasite is often spread through contaminated drinking water. The parasite causes a ‘yellow button’ of pus to form in your bird’s mouth. This can stop your bird from eating normally leading to weight loss.

What to look for
•Weight loss
•Birds picking up food then dropping it
•A cheese-like plaque in your birds mouth (see photo)
•A reluctance to eat

Treatment

Treating canker or suspected canker is a job for a vet who will likely prescribe an anti-parasitic medication.

Prevention

Ensure that your birds' drinking water is changed daily. Try to keep the drinkers in the chicken house to discourage wild birds from sharing your birds’ water.

Sour Crop

Sour crop is a yeast infection in the crop leading to thickening of the crop wall, dilation of the crop and birds losing condition and possibly dying. Sour Crop is caused by a disruption of the normal bacteria that inhabit the crop with an overgrowth of Candidia (a fungal species) often occurring.

The crop is a part of the oesophagus (food pipe) where the initial stages of digestion occur. You will find it at the base of your chickens neck and you can sometimes feel the contents whether it is food, grit or water. We frequently get phone calls from anxious owners who have birds which appear off colour and have an enlarged crop. These chickens have often stopped eating and are dull with bad breath and they will also have large fluid filled crops.

CROP IMPACTATION AND SOUR CROP:
There are two common conditions of the crop: crop impaction and sour crop.

The route cause is often difficult to determine but you should check the condition of your feed store and always ensure your chickens have fresh feed. Bizarre diets and mouldy food are thought to be potential causes of Sour Crop.

Treatment is also difficult as there is no specific treatment for sour crop. The use of copper sulphate has been successful but this must be carried out under veterinary supervision. Manually emptying the crop is difficult and the underlying fungal/yeast infection needs to be controlled. The crop can also become impacted, in which case removing feed and manually massaging the crop can be of use.

In many cases a dilated crop is difficult to treat and the prognosis is not good. This treatment involves draining the crop. One method, which we do not recommend, is to turn the bird upside down and let the fluid be regurgitated however there is a real risk of choking with this treatment. Chicken Vet recommends the use of local anaesthetic and to drain and wash the crop with sterile saline. (This is a veterinary procedure).

Although the exact cause for this condition has not yet been fully determined you can use antibiotics, which will kill off the friendly crop bacteria. Therefore using a prebiotic such as Beryl’s Friendly Bacteria may help restore the normal crop bacteria. This will coat the lining of the crop leaving less room for fungi to grow. Use Beryl’sFriendly Bacteria 48 hours after the end of the antibiotic course.

Furthermore, your vet may prescribe an antifungal that can be used to control the fungal overgrowth after surgery.
This condition commonly recurs often due to the fact that there may be an underlying cause that can be difficult to determine.
 

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