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Birds--General/chicken wheezing

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Expert: Abi - 10/11/2009


Question
Hello
One of my chickens has started to act a bit peculiar, so sits on the ladder and makes a wheezing sound whilst straining her neck and closing her eyes. I have checked he nose and throat and there is no mucus or discharge but I am getting a little worried.
She is eating and drinking fine and the other 3 birds are not showing anything the same.
She is a rescued battery hen and we have had her for 3 months.... can you suggest anything?

Many thanks
Dean Westwood

Answer
Hello Dean,

A couple of battery hens I rescued recently also ended up with this problem, after I had been treating them for coccidiosis. I think it's just a cold brought on by the weakness of their immune system. It is just a sort of respiratory infection (I couldn't possibly tell you which- there are HUNDREDS) so I suggest you ring up your vets and get some antibiotics for them.

Thanks fr your question.

Birds--General

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Abi

Expertise

I CAN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS ON ANIMALS OTHER THAN CHICKENS/DUCKS/GEESE- I WILL TRY BUT THEY ARE NOT MY SPECIALIST SUBJECT- PLEASE DO NOT ASK ME QUESTIONS ABOUT BUDGIES, FINCHES, PARROTS, COCKATIELS OR OTHER 'EXOTIC' BIRDS. I can answer questions on pretty much all CHICKEN breeds, including fancy and bantam birds. I can give advice on how to get the best egg production, brightest yolk colours and darkest egg shell colours, breeding (using broody hens, not incubators), bird problems/illnesses. I can give advice on all aspects of basic chicken care but I breed chickens for my own pleasure only, I do not often show or sell my birds.

Experience

I own and breed a wide range of chickens, but I speciallise in cochins and crevecour bantams; crevecours have a large crest (an afro!) so I can answer questions on problems concerning them; cochins have feathered legs, which leads to no end of problems which I have experienced! I also own a large flock of domestic, rescued 'battery' hens, and a single maran hen, Hilda, who is the matriarch of her flock, so I can give advice on how to get the best colour of maran eggs!

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