This Chicken Can’t Breathe

Our Australorp hen is struggling to breathe. This is what we did...
↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ Click “Show More” for resources ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓

FEATURED IN THIS VIDEO:

MORE FROM WHITE HOUSE ON THE HILL:

GET YOUR DEALS HERE:

Thanks for watching!

[jurassicjs]

From what I know your hen seemed to display the symptoms of gapeworm. It’s a parasite that lives in the birds lungs and this is why they struggle breathing. I think antibiotics or a special treatment can really fox it up, but what you were doing seemed to work well also. I appreciate how some of your recent videos have highlighted the unfortunate side of poultry keeping, it helps spread awareness of how to help sick birds.

[OliviaLovesPugs]

Looks to me like either a respiratory infection or gapeworm, which is a parasite that lives in bird’s airways. I haven’t noticed any discharge or mucus from her though, which is common in respiratory infections, which makes me think it’s gapeworm. You have to be careful treating it though, just like heartworms in pets, because if all the worms die at once, the body can’t just flush them out like parasites in the digestive system, and they could die of septic shock from the parasites rotting inside them. It could be spread throughout the flock, but started showing symptoms due to stress in the flock (cold winter weather).

I worry that if Cleopatra’s toes really are dead, she may die due to septic shock if they aren’t amputated. If she lives, she’s going to need special care and housing since she probably won’t be able to roost, and staying on the ground at night in the coop is dangerous, especially in cold weather. She would become a special needs pet.

If you’re having frostbite issues, it means that the coops where frostbite is occurring do not have enough ventilation. There needs to be air circulation so that the moisture produced by the chickens pooping and breathing can escape; instead what’s happening is the moisture is settling on the chickens and then freezing, causing frostbite. Frostbite is extremely painful and potentially lethal. Sealing the coops up tight with greenhouse plastic might seem like the best way to keep them warm, but most chickens are very cold hardy (although this depends on breed, age, and health), it’s the frostbite rather than the cold that gets them. Proper winter chicken coops should offer shelter from wind, precipitation, and predators, but still have air flow, such as a small, wire covered window up high to keep open slightly or small gaps throughout the construction so it isn’t as air tight. Chickens will roost all puffed up and huddled together, sitting on their legs, to keep warm and usually can do a fine job of it, unless there’s moisture to cause frostbite. If you’re concerned about your chickens getting frostbite in the short term, then cover their combs, wattles, feet, and legs in something waxy, like Musher’s Secret; it was designed to be applied to the paw pads of sled dogs to protect their feet from the cold and the snow and ice. A lot of people recommend Vaseline, and it does help, but it’s not as effective in preventing frostbite as a product like Musher’s Secret. And by god, please do not add any supplemental heat to the coops! Chickens do not need it if they have a proper coop, and it’s a huge fire hazard, as well as a huge risk to their safety if the heat that they have gotten used to stops working in the middle of the night, which can cause a fast, significant drop in temperature which can kill a bird. And I’m not talking about your indoor brooder and hospital setup, those are cases that obviously need supplemental heat.

Keep up the good work caring for each and every animal’s needs, and I am praying that Cleopatra and Annie/Abby make it and recover. Good luck!

[teagancooperrr]

Your kid wanting to check on her at night before and after chores just shows his love for animals.

[jamiesmith]

I love that you care for every single animal no matter how big or small.

[maryanndavis]

When my hen started breathing like that I found some videos that helped me figure out what could be wrong. I am so great full to the people that post videos. They really do save lives! Anyway, I found out that she had been laying eggs internally. Chickens don't have a protective layer around their organs, so the yoke builds up and eventually there's is so much of it that it puts pressure on their air sacs. The treatment for that is drawing out the fluid with a huge needle. I had to do that every couple of days and that's pretty traumatic. She ended up living about 9 months like that. There is a shot you can get but good luck finding a vet that will see chickens! Even the avian vets refused to treat her, because they are considered poultry!! Chickens are not only birds by definition. They are incredible, highly intelligent birds. The fact that most vets don't find them worthy of treatment because humans eat them... that's just mind blowing. That's what makes them poultry, the fact that they are consumed commercially. If they weren't they would be worthy enough to be on the birds list, not poultry! Needless to say, I could not find a vet worth a damn, and my hen died. Anyway hopefully this will help someone! I should probably make a video lol!

[lisashaffer]

2 of our chickens gasped like that, we used safe-guard equine dewormer and it fixed them right up. I don't think they actually had gape worm but it helped them. You just put 2 dots of it in their beak. Ours were better in 2 days of treatments and a year later now are still fine

[jimmypickett]

Thank you so much for sharing this story. I just started working at a new farm about 2 months ago and have been taking care of hens for the first time. This afternoon, I found a hen breathing heavy like yours was, but when I picked her up to try and bring her to isolation, she died in my arms. It was heartbreaking, but this video makes me hopeful that I'll be able to catch the warning signs early enough to care for the next one like you cared for yours.

[jessicamadison]

I’m so elated that Annie recovered. I’ve had a few losses last summer and one was definitely a respiratory Illness. I caught her before anyone else got sick but sadly she passes within 24 hours. She was a youth and I’m grateful it was quick for her poor darling

[missbehavesclass]

Did you check if she has something STUCK IN HER THROAT? it's exactly the same behavior my pet bird did, when he had a bit of food stuck in it's throat. Easyer breathing when calm, and when in movement struggling extremely.. like my bird..I wish you the best luck with her, you do such a great job and I adore your channel for the dedication you have for your kids and animals..

[whoknowswho]

So lovely to see farmers who care, who treat the animals in their care with kindness. Everyone should be so aware of the emotions/pain of animals.

[sherreeroper]

I've seen my chickens gasp for air..I'm watching how you help.
You have such great kids..

[tadhoney]

a chicken newbie owner here and one of my girls is sick going on a week or so and started second guessing myself on how I’ve been treating her using vet RX in water and in mouth on face and under feathers and this video makes me feel better about treating the hen. Praying I don’t lose her

[kylesmith]

So cool you guys didn't just put her down and tried to help. So proud for you and your beautiful family. Those boys of yours sure are awesome. What an amazing and fullfiling life you're providing them. Kids should have experiences like this I feel like it helps connect them to the world and really appreciate hard work it takes and the beauty of life.

[Essssss]

I hope the hen gets ok!! And bless you for being attentive to her illness!

[Bebebeas]

I love how you care for those who may be struggling. Thank you for that.

[MrsPetal]

This is so touching, nice to see people caring for their animals and their family. 🙏❤️

[deborahgilliland]

I've used Vet RX on my cat when she was just a kitten. She had an upper respiratory thing going on and the Vet RX really helped to clear it up.

[mcanultymichelle]

It’s nice to see you installed love for animals in your little boy

[into_a_fantasy_]

So good to see people caring well for their animals thank you!

[Operatoristhere]

I think your bird has gape worm. After watching quite a few of your videos, it seems your farm is having a ton of issues with parasites of all types. I recommend that you start adding Apple cider vinegar to your waters. It helps to get rid of bacteria and parasites in waters and inside of your birds. Every year, I dust each chicken by hand with the seven powder. Since you have such a big farm, I wouldn’t recommend doing it by hand but at least putting Seven powder in the bedding or places that your birds dust bathe in. It gets ride of all sorts of ground parasites including lice and mites, Also, VetRX helps smooth the throats of birds. Make sure you only put 1 or two drops down your chickens throat. (Also if it gets really cold, use Vaseline and VetRX on combs, feet, and wattles to keep there heat in. This helps prevent frostbite.) I’m glad that you guys take such great care of your animals. I wish your australorp the best!!!