[neil9797]

Hi, I have a silky poland bantam about 18 months old. Despite a recent worming I noticed her gaping just a little bit so I wormed 2x dose again. The gaping died down for a couple of weeks but now she's at it again, and seems a tad withdrawn too. All 6 other batams are fine. Any ideas or advice? Thanks, Neil

[New shoot]

What are you worming her with Neil?  Some of the treatments sold are only really preventatives and won't touch gapeworm anyway.  Flubenvet is the only one that does.  Also check her crop to see if it feels normal. 

[neil9797]

Hi New Shoot. I use Flubenvet. What kind of thing should I be feeling for in her crop? Thanks, N

[New shoot]

Hi Neil.  Flubenvet should have got the worms. 

As for the crop, a hard solid crop could mean it is impacted.  A very soft squishy one could be sour crop and you should be able to detect a sour smell in the chicken's breath.  Chickens gape sometimes if they are trying to move food around in their crop, so I thought it might be a problem there.

[neil9797]

OK so her crop feels pretty empty at an end-of-the-day check. Her breath smells a tad fishy but not "sour". Her breathing is moderately laboured and audible. Getting worried.

[New shoot]

I think I would take her to a vet if it was me.  It could be some sort of infection in her airways somewhere and it may need anti-bios to clear it.

She should have a good full crop going to bed.  With mine, you can feel pellets in there and see their crops protruding on one side of their chests, although that is probably harder to spot on a silkie as they are so fluffy.  If she is feeling so ill she doesn't want to eat, that isn't so great, but all is not lost yet.

Fingers crossed she is OK 

[neil9797]

OK thanks, I'll try and find one. I'll let you know.

[neil9797]

Vet said it's an abcess around the top of her oesophagus - big yellow, blooming mass. I'd checked her throat before but it was too far back to see without a light. She's on antibiotics for 10 days. Hopefully the mass wil shrink but sometimes it needs surgical removal. That'll be too expensive though  Feathers crossed.

[neil9797]

Blooming? That's not what I typed! Is there an auto-censor on this site? I used the word meaning "covered in blood" 

[New shoot]

Yes there is an auto-censor Neil.  The word you typed does change to blooming when you post.

Feathers and fingers crossed that the antibiotics do the trick.  At least you know what you are dealing with now and she has a decent chance of pulling through.  Hopefully as the meds kick in, she will feel better and start to eat more.  That will really help with her recovery 

[neil9797]

Thanks New shoot. Much appreciated. N

[grinling]

Check that the antibiotics given can still allow edible eggs.

[neil9797]

Oopsie, I didn't give a final update - so here it is. Nice chicken vet diagnosed a throat abcess. 1 week of antibiotics sorted it all out. Job done and happy lady. Thanks for all your advice, N

[New shoot]

Glad to hear it all ended well 

[Flowerpower136]

Lovely news!