- Oct 19, 2014
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My chickens are 6 months old. They all have seemed healthy, happy and very social. For the past few weeks, one of the hens has had some symptoms. First she would breathe with her beak open. She wasn't wheezing necessarily, but I could definitely hear her breathing. The temps were quite warm here in Northern California, so I attributed it to the heat. She has now started to gape. She makes a squeak sound instead of her social clucking, and she screeches with her neck out which I have guessed through internet and you tube research is possibly gaping. (I'm very new to this.) She lays eggs. She eats and drinks. She hangs out with her friends. I held her today and I don't feel any masses or strange lumps. Her eyes seem clear, her comb is normal. I'm guessing I need to take her to a vet, but I'm hoping to get some reassurance in the meantime. Any ideas? Thanks in advance. We are very attached to her.