Claire Thompson
Heavy breathing in chickens can be a symptom of various illnesses, including ascites, respiratory infections, gapeworm, CRD, infectious laryngotracheitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Newcastle disease. It is important to seek veterinary advice if you notice your chicken is breathing heavily, as some of these illnesses can be serious and require prompt treatment. In addition to heavy breathing, other symptoms such as lethargy, loss of appetite, and watery or swollen eyes may also be present. While some causes of heavy breathing in chickens are infectious and can spread rapidly to other birds in the flock, others may be the result of environmental triggers or stress.
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What You'll Learn
Potential respiratory infection
If a chicken is breathing heavily, it may be suffering from a respiratory infection. Respiratory illnesses in chickens are serious and require immediate attention as they rarely recover without intervention. Moreover, they can spread rapidly throughout the flock. Thus, it is important to isolate the sick bird and provide good nursing care.
To identify whether a chicken has a respiratory infection, listen to its chest. A congested or rattling sound may indicate a respiratory illness. Other symptoms include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, watery or bubbly eyes, gasping, head shaking, swollen face or eyes, coughing blood, choking, and darkened comb or wattles.
If these symptoms are observed, it is best to seek the professional opinion of a veterinarian, preferably an avian or poultry vet. While waiting for veterinary advice, there are some steps that can be taken to help the bird recover. The key elements to aid recovery are hydration, nutrition, and warmth. If the bird is severely ill, it may be necessary to use a spoon or dropper to give it water. Additionally, adding electrolytes and vitamins to the water can aid recovery and prevent dehydration.
Some common respiratory illnesses in chickens include CRD, infectious laryngotracheitis, mycoplasma gallisepticum, and Newcastle disease. It is important to note that some respiratory illnesses, such as avian influenza, can also be transmitted to humans, so precautions should be taken when handling sick birds.
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Ascites, possibly caused by ovarian cancer
Heavy breathing in chickens can be an indication of a respiratory infection. Chickens with respiratory illnesses may exhibit symptoms such as coughing, sneezing, wheezing, rattling breath, watery or bubbly eyes, gasping, blocked nostrils, coughing blood, choking, and darkened combs/wattles. It is important to treat respiratory infections early as recovery is rare without intervention, and the illness may spread to other birds in the flock.
In some cases, heavy breathing in chickens may also be indicative of ascites, which is almost always caused by ovarian cancer in chickens. Ascites is the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, resulting in bloating, pain, discomfort, nausea, and difficulty moving, eating, or breathing. In chickens with ovarian cancer, the hard tumor surface can irritate the abdomen, leading to fluid leakage and buildup. This condition is typically observed in meat chickens that have been bred to gain weight rapidly and is less common in laying hens.
Ovarian cancer is a significant concern in chickens, with over 30% of hens developing the disease after two and a half years of age. Chickens are commonly used as a model for human ovarian cancer research due to the spontaneous development of epithelial ovarian tumors similar to those found in humans. The cellular and molecular biology of chicken ovarian cancer (COVCAR) cells have been studied to better understand their invasiveness and expression of genes and proteins associated with ovarian cancer.
The treatment options for ascites in chickens may include the use of a hormone implant, such as Deslorelin, to suppress reproductive disorders. Additionally, procedures like paracentesis can be performed to drain fluid from the abdomen and provide immediate symptom relief. However, ascites often recurs, and some individuals opt for a flexible tube insertion to facilitate frequent drainage at home.
While ascites in chickens is predominantly associated with ovarian cancer, it is important to consider other potential causes. These may include liver damage, heart failure, or avian tuberculosis. A thorough examination and history evaluation can help rule out these alternative conditions.
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Gapeworm
There are several deworming medications that are effective against gapeworms, including fenbendazole, ivermectin, and levamasole. It is necessary to treat birds for gapeworm twice. The initial treatment will kill adult worms infecting the birds, while the second treatment will eradicate any worms that have hatched from eggs or been ingested since the first treatment. After the second deworming, it is important to clean and disinfect the cage to destroy any remaining eggs and reduce the risk of reinfection.
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Stress or anxiety
A chicken breathing with an open beak is either ill or under stress. If your chicken is breathing heavily, it could be a sign of stress or anxiety. Chickens have no sweat glands, so they may open their mouths to regulate their temperature. This can also indicate stress.
If your chicken is lethargic, not moving, or not eating or drinking, this could be a sign of stress or illness. It is important to check your chicken's crop at the base of their neck to see if it feels fuller or firmer than usual. Listen to their breathing for any wheezing or congestion, and check their breast muscling and abdomen for swelling. If your chicken is displaying these symptoms, it is important to seek veterinary advice.
Chickens are social animals, and infectious diseases can spread rapidly throughout a flock. It is vital to isolate sick birds at the first sign of illness to protect the rest of the flock. Respiratory infections in chickens tend to arise when they are already stressed by environmental triggers. Common environmental triggers include respiratory diseases, such as Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD), which can be treated with erythromycin eye ointment.
If your chicken is breathing heavily, it may be a good idea to put them somewhere warm and quiet with some vitamin water to help them recover.
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Avian Influenza
Heavy breathing in chickens can be a symptom of respiratory illness. Respiratory illnesses in chickens can be dangerous and often require medical treatment. In some cases, they can even result in the death of the bird. Therefore, it is important to identify and treat respiratory illnesses early.
The respiratory symptoms of Avian Influenza in chickens can include coughing, sneezing, darkened comb/wattles, swelling of the head/eyes, and nasal discharge. In some cases, Avian Influenza can also cause a decrease in egg production and misshapen eggs with thin, rough, or wrinkled shells.
To prevent Avian Influenza and keep your flock healthy, it is important to separate them from potential disease sources, including wildlife and wild birds. Keeping the poultry area and equipment clean, and separating new or returning birds from the flock for an extended period, can also help reduce the risk of infection.
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Frequently asked questions
Heavy breathing in chickens can be a sign of respiratory illness, such as CRD or ascites, especially if accompanied by lethargy and a loss of appetite. Seek veterinary advice as soon as possible as respiratory illnesses can be dangerous and require early treatment.
Symptoms of respiratory illness in chickens include coughing, sneezing, wheezing, rattling breath, watery or bubbly eyes, gasping, blocked nostrils, head shaking, swollen face/eyes, coughing blood, choking, and darkened combs/wattles.
If your chicken is showing any symptoms of respiratory illness, isolate it from the rest of your flock immediately to prevent the illness from spreading. Seek veterinary advice as soon as possible.
Heavy breathing in chickens can also be a sign of stress or anxiety. It may also be a way for the chicken to regulate its body temperature if it is too hot.
