7 month old hen making gurgling noises ONLY at night. Breathes fine during the day.

[ChickenCasey]

I have a hen that makes a gurgling sound that similar to a bit of liquid in her airway but it only happens at night and during the day she breathes perfectly fine. I live in SC and it is hot and she opens her mouth for air during the day and I don’t hear any form of wheezing. The are free range. I provide as much cool space as possible and they usually hang out underneath the carport where they lie out on the concrete and drink the constant dripping water. I have around 30 in the flock. She is the only one making this noise and is it is audible from outside the coop at night. She is currently separated inside the house and this is only the second night I’ve heard it. I purchased some VetRX today and I’m gonna give it to her in her water tomorrow morning. Not sure if it’ll help though because I think she needs medication just have no clue for what disease because her symptoms are weird. It is only occasional at night and it happens while her mouth is closed as well just faintly. Any help on what this might be and how to treat it will be much appreciated.

 

[Coops Dad]

I've had chickens do that when they go to roost with a full crop. I think the way they sit while roosting puts pressure on the bottom of the crop and forces a little liquid into the trachea. Sounds like the last drops coming out of my Keurig.

 

[ChickenCasey]

I've had chickens do that when they go to roost with a full crop. I think the way they sit while roosting puts pressure on the bottom of the crop and forces a little liquid into the trachea. Sounds like the last drops coming out of my Keurig.

It does sound like the Kuerig lol!

 

[Coops Dad]

That probably won't help. Vetrx doesn't really help anything.

Not true; it makes people feel like they're doing something, and it gives them a response when they're asked "have you done anything for it yet?"

 

[Eggcessive]

I would feel of her crop early in the morning, to see if it has emptied overnight, and check it in the late evening, and tell us if it is full and firm or puffy. Just push on it gently. Sounds like crop contents coming back up into her throat. What all do you feed them? Is she overeating? Do you have granite poultry grit available?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would feel of her crop early in the morning, to see if it has emptied overnight, and check it in the late evening, and tell us if it is full and firm or puffy. Just push on it gently. Sounds like crop contents coming back up into her throat. What all do you feed them? Is she overeating? Do you have granite poultry grit available?

Agreed, sounds like it may be a crop problem.

Re-check to make sure the crop is emptying overnight. If it's not, then address that symptom. https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sorry its been so long since I looked at the thread. But I will say she has not made the noise again since the night I made the post. I don’t provide grit although I have some in the form of crushed oyster shells that I’ll give to the flock today. How do y’all provide it to them?
I haven’t directly checked her crop the next morning but when I feel it mid-day or towards the end of day it’s hard sometimes with some liquid mixed in. And she’s a smaller chicken but I could imagine her overeating.
They have access as much yard and leaves as they want, so they get a lot of bugs. Her Diet is bugs, cracked corn thrown in the yard a couple times daily, and 16% layer mix Purina dumor crumble from TSC provided in the coop exclusively.

I'm glad she's not making the noise.
Perhaps that particular time she went to roost with a too full crop.

Checking the crop during the day when a hen has been eating/drinking, it should feel like it has food/water in it.
The best way to gauge crop function is to check first thing in the morning before she has had anything to eat/drink, the crop should be empty/flat then.

Oyster shell is for calcium and is not hard enough to act as grit.
Grit is usually crushed granite, you can find it in stores like TSC. I just put some in a small container inside, they will pick out pieces as they need it.
While some suitable rocks/pebbles/grit may be found naturally while ranging/roaming and while the birds dig around, I've found that it's best to just provide purchased grit, this way I know they have access to what is needed for the gizzard to process foods properly.

 

[ChickenCasey]

It’s good to provide the extra calcium for those who need it. Sometimes they need more than what’s in the mix.

Okay thank you I appreciate the heads up. What sort of container do y’all use for the grit and calcium? I don’t wanna use like a chick feeder because they are good at knocking em over

 

[Tookie]

Could you get a video of her while doing that?

 

[ChickenCasey]

Okay cool. Money well spent lol. But thanks again. Will post again with updates if things worsen or get better.