This post may contain affiliate links.
Rattly breathing in chickens can be an indicator of a respiratory illness, which can spread quickly among a flock if not addressed in time. Some respiratory diseases in chickens are highly contagious, so it’s important to act as soon as you notice any signs of breathing difficulties.
Catching the issue early is best for both treatment and preventing the disease from spreading to other birds. Without prompt care, diagnosing and treating the illness becomes more difficult as the condition worsens. That’s why understanding the symptoms and causes of rattly breathing in chickens is important. Knowing what triggers this condition helps you treat the affected bird and protect the rest of the flock.
The sooner you intervene, the better the chances of recovery and containment. Recognizing the early signs and identifying the root causes will enable you to take swift action and keep your flock healthy.
How to Identify Respiratory Issues in Chickens?
Chickens are prone to experiencing symptoms similar to colds or the flu. However, when your chicken shows cold-like signs, it could point to something more serious than a simple illness. Identifying the exact cause is crucial for effective treatment.
Symptoms such as sneezing, rattly breathing, coughing, nasal discharge, wheezing, or labored breathing are all signs that something needs attention.
Wheezing and rattly breathing are often linked to a bacterial infection known as CRD (Chronic Respiratory Disease). Healthy chickens are normally resistant to the bacteria that causes CRD, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, but certain environmental factors can weaken their immune systems, allowing the disease to take hold.
Some common triggers that can lower a chicken’s immunity and lead to infection include:
- Stress
- Overcrowding
- Extreme temperatures
- Poor living conditions
Recognizing these triggers and symptoms early can help prevent the spread of illness and keep your flock healthy.
Symptoms Of Chicken Respiratory Disorder (CRD)
Chicken respiratory disease grows gradually, and the sooner you detect and get it diagnosed, the better the treatment and recovery of the chicken.
Some symptoms to look for are:
- Coughing
- Rattly breathing/wheezing
- Unusual/laboured breathing
- Eye/Nose discharge
- Breathing with an open mouth
- Ruffled feathers
- Shaking of head
- Inflammation around the beak/eyes
- Weak wattle/comb color
- Lack of appetite
- Lowered egg production
- Tiredness
- Lack of condition
Listening to your chicken’s chest will help you assess whether or not your chicken has CRD. Any congested or rattly breathing sound indicates CRD. If you closely observe, you will find your chicken having trouble stretching its neck and panting heavily.
| Cause | Age | Signs |
|---|---|---|
| Wet nasal discharge in eyesNo shells on laid eggsWrinkled eggsWatery droppings | 0-3 weeks and 18-25 weeks and over | Inflamed eyesPanting |
| Nasal discharge sneezing | 2 weeks and over | Wet nasalsDischarge in eyesNo shells on laid eggsWrinkled eggsWatery droppings |
| Mycoplasma gallisepticumBacteria-like organism cause a respiratory disorder | 4 weeks and over | Nasal discharge |
| AirsacculitisIt is caused by bacteria that results in swelling of air sacs | 5-12 weeks | Troubled breathing |
| Fowl cholera It is caused by bacteria that are common in common fowl | 6 weeks and over | Nasal dischargeSneezing |
| ILT: Infectious laryngotracheitisCaused by bacteria | 6 weeks and over | Discharge of mucous from nose and mouth, coughing |
| GaperwormIt is caused by a parasitic worm called Syngamus trachea that rests in its throat. | 6 weeks and over | Shaking its headCoughingGasping |
Other Respiratory Conditions Are
Infectious Coryza Symptoms
- Inflamed wattles/face
- Foul odour
- Gunky eyes
Avian Influenza Symptoms
- Droopy birds
- Diarrhea
- Sudden death
Treatment of Chicken Respiratory Disorder (CRD)
Every respiratory disorder mentioned above needs medical treatment. The sooner the identification and diagnosis, the better the recovery and prevention of its spread. When left untreated, the chicken can die.
The below steps are part of its treatment plan:
Isolation
Chickens are social animals, and therefore, any infection can rapidly spread to other chickens or birds. When infected, separating sick birds from others and isolating them becomes essential. The first sign of disease needs protection and isolation from the remaining flock. This isolation will reduce the spread, and the infected chicken will get its feed and water supply.
Care
Appropriate nutrition, hydration, and warmth are crucial elements that contribute to their recovery. Hydration is of the utmost importance. If the condition is severe, you can use a dropper or a spoon to provide water to your sick chicken. This must be done until it recovers and can drink independently.
Depending on the severity of the condition, an electrolyte solution can be provided to hydrate.
Treating Infection
Microplasma gallisepticum is the most common respiratory disorder in chickens. Tracheitis, laryngitis, pneumonia, and bronchitis are other conditions that need the same kind of treatment. An antibiotic is primarily used to treat respiratory diseases with the common symptom of rattly breathing.
You can take your chickens to the vet for a prescribed antibiotic or take an over-the-counter antibiotic. In the early stages of infection, you can treat CRD even by natural methods.
How to Minimize The Infection Risk
Appropriate coop management is essential to avoid disease spread. After a disease situation, cleaning the coop thoroughly is vital to minimize the danger of reinfection. Chickens must be ensured of their complete health before being mixed with the rest of the flock.
Making use of a good probiotic will provide chicken immunity and help boost it substantially.
Managing Respiratory Issues and Treatment Options for Rattly Breathing in Chickens
Here are some common respiratory diseases and treatment options for each:
Mycoplasma
Mycoplasma enters the chicken’s body when stressed, by another infected chicken or dust-filled environment.
Once the symptoms are noticed, you will need some lab tests to be carried out to confirm the condition. Vets who treat poultry can help you with the lab tests. It shall be worth the price as this will save your other chickens and spread the infection and save you money for later treatment.
Not only this, but some chickens recover and look healthy. However, they may still carry the disease and spread it to another flock. Regular check-ups and suitable medication will help avoid this spread by aiding the treatment of the cause. Antibiotics control some of the infections but may not work for all kinds of CRDs.
A proper diagnosis will help you get a suitable drug to treat the infection. If there’s a chance of getting your chicken vaccinated, it is best to go for it as it is a much better option. A proper diagnosis can help you get your chicken vaccinated. Some conditions with vaccines are mycoplasmosis, infectious coryza, and infectious laryngotracheitis.
Treatment
- Your vet may give you soluble Tylosin that is added to the chicken’s drinking water
- Keep the stress to a minimum
- The environment should be dust-free and clean
- Keep other infected chickens in isolation
- Vaccinate your chicken against mycoplasma
Infectious Bronchitis
Caused by a coronavirus, this condition can be identified with a noticeable drop in egg production. Younger birds have higher mortality rates. Throat swabs are used to diagnose it, and the virus is tested for.
Treatment
* Prevention is the best cure for this infection.
* Certain antibiotics can assist in secondary infection of this bacteria.
* Related vaccinations can also help to shield your chicken from the disease.
Ammonia or Dust
Chickens can develop this respiratory condition when thriving in a dusty or high-ammonia environment. The chicken’s airway lining is sensitive. In this condition, the airways swell due to the impact caused by ammonia or dust particles.
Treatment
- Make use of chicken bedding that is free of dust
- Please keep them in suitable ventilation when indoors.
- Keep them off the dust/ammonia-free environment.
- Eliminate its droppings regularly to maintain low ammonia levels.
Gapeworm
Syngamus trachea, as the name suggests, lodges in the chicken’s trachea and results in this condition. Chickens eat snails or earthworms that are infested with this worm.
Thus, chickens get infected with this worm. The larvae of this worm cross the wall of its intestine. The larvae then travel into the lungs by traveling in the bloodstream. This is where the worm larvae are set up within the chicken’s trachea. Head-shaking, gaping mouth, and coughing are some symptoms. An 8-week-old young chicken is vulnerable to this worm.
Treatment
A timely deworming regime is the best remedy for this condition. Any poultry wormer is beneficial.
Prevention of CRD
CRD can be prevented from flock invasion. This will have a significant impact on flock management and good biosecurity. Biosecurity attentiveness to routine things to do to keep the infection at bay is a crucial part of prevention. This will prevent CRD spread to other chickens.
A clean, dust-free, stress-free, comfortable, well-fed, and clean environment is the first step in preventing chicken infections. If an infection does occur, the best remedy is to notice it as soon as possible.
Isolate the infected chicken right away. Go to the vet for all the necessary treatment and precautions.
