Hole in Chickens Back That I Can Hear Breathing
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Wheezing when breathing after 'possum attack
- Thread starter ShanaMcS
- Start date
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- Tags
- attack opossum possum wheezing
- #1
Hello, last night an opossum got into our coop and tore out many chicken's feathers, but other than that they all seemed fine except for Millie. She was wheezing. Apart from feathers being plucked out, I don't see any blood on her. I tried massaging her throat and gave her water with olive oil in it and put them all to bed. Today she is still wheezing, but it is more than that. She's struggling to get a breath. Could she have inhaled a feather, is it something else, does it sound like she has an unrelated illness that I need to treat for? I love her so much. Thank you! Here's a video of her breathing:
- #2
Sorry about Millie.
Can you feel her all over for any swelling or air that's under the skin that may indicated a ruptured air sac?
There are 9 air sacs in a chicken's body, feel her all over including toward the vent. 
Can you feel her all over for any swelling or air that's under the skin that may indicated a ruptured air sac?
There are 9 air sacs in a chicken's body, feel her all over including toward the vent.
- Thread starter
- #3
I do not feel any swelling, but I did notice her vent protrudes with every inhale. It balloons out. Do you think that could be from an abdominal air sac rupture? Or is that normal? Here's a video:
- #4
Hmmm...is the vent "opening" when she breaths too?I do not feel any swelling, but I did notice her vent protrudes with every inhale. It balloons out. Do you think that could be from an abdominal air sac rupture? Or is that normal? Here's a video:
I would compare her to another hen.
- Thread starter
- #5
No, I just checked and the other chickens don't have that happen to their vent when they breathe. I just checked her again, in case she was just ready to lay before, but it's still happening when she breathes. I took a video so you can see it. I'm starting to wonder if maybe she broke or cracked a rib... Could that be it, maybe?
- #6
@casportpony @EggcessiveNo, I just checked and the other chickens don't have that happen to their vent when they breathe. I just checked her again, in case she was just ready to lay before, but it's still happening when she breathes. I took a video so you can see it. I'm starting to wonder if maybe she broke or cracked a rib... Could that be it, maybe?
@ShanaMcS I'm wanting to say with her in respiratory distress like that and the vent extending, that an air sac has been damaged. Let's see what the others think.
Here's a video that shows how birds breath.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thank you very much. It does seem to be so, although I am not sure I can tell where the buldge is that indicates the area of air leakage. I just read the article below and, although I would pierce it, I'm not sure I'd know where to do it at this point...
Article:
AIR SAC RUPTURE
Birds have a series of air sacs located internally. These are in the neck area (cervical air sacs), the chest (thoracic air sacs) and in the belly (abdominal air sacs). These areas are part of a bird's breathing system and help the bird receive oxygen from the air in a highly efficient manner. They also help provide the lightness and buoyancy needed for flight. Occasionally, one of these air sacs may rupture (usually due to injury) and air will leak from the sac and accumulate under the bird's skin. This condition is known as subcutaneous emphysema. This accumulation must be removed, or the air sac may tear even further.
Article:
AIR SAC RUPTURE
Birds have a series of air sacs located internally. These are in the neck area (cervical air sacs), the chest (thoracic air sacs) and in the belly (abdominal air sacs). These areas are part of a bird's breathing system and help the bird receive oxygen from the air in a highly efficient manner. They also help provide the lightness and buoyancy needed for flight. Occasionally, one of these air sacs may rupture (usually due to injury) and air will leak from the sac and accumulate under the bird's skin. This condition is known as subcutaneous emphysema. This accumulation must be removed, or the air sac may tear even further.
WHAT TO DO
Clean the skin over the swelling with a disinfectant on a cotton ball. Take small scissors or a needle and make a tiny hole in the skin. This allows the air to escape. This may need to be done several times before the air is released. It has been shown that air sacs normally repair themselves within two weeks. However, if you see no improvement within a day or two, your avian veterinarian should see the bird. It is probably a good idea to have the bird seen anyway.
I wish I could tell where the leak was better. I hate to stick her if it's not going to help her...
- Thread starter
- #8
She's struggling even more this morning. I don't feel anything ballooning out, except for the part right above her vent which seems like muscles to me. Do I need to put her down? Here's how she's breathing:
- #9
Poor thing, she is really struggling to breathe. I really don't know what would be causing her gasping unless it was an injury during the attack. If she had something stuck inside her airways, she probably would be making a stridor sound, loud high pitched wheezing in and out. I would try to take her to a vet if possible. I am so sorry that I cannot help.
- Thread starter
- #10
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Hole in Chickens Back That I Can Hear Breathing
Source: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/wheezing-when-breathing-after-possum-attack.1339613/
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