4 month old Hen humming and cough

[LadyBubbles]

My hen started humming this morning after we let her out of the coop into the run. We pulled her inside and this has been going on all day. Hum on inhale and exhale now`she will have coughing like fits every hour or so. All other 7 birds are fine though we do have heavy smoke from wildfires in our area. She will not allow me to look in her mouth and sometimes when she coughs the hum is directly after and sounds like she is crying! This is awful! is there anything I can do? She also fluctuates between red and pale for her comb and face but devoured chick grit the she saw it and ate starwberries and feed as well. no water yet.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would try to get a good look inside the beak for obstruction.

Your description sounds like Stridor which is when a piece of food/debris or possible mucous is obstructing the airway. Usually Stridor will resolve on its own within a day.

If you have difficulty looking in the beak, gently swaddle her in a towel to capture the wings. Pull down on her wattles to help open the beak and take a look inside. If you have a helper, it will make it easier.

This is what Stridor sounds like.

 

[LadyBubbles]

I would try to get a good look inside the beak for obstruction.

Your description sounds like Stridor which is when a piece of food/debris or possible mucous is obstructing the airway. Usually Stridor will resolve on its own within a day.

If you have difficulty looking in the beak, gently swaddle her in a towel to capture the wings. Pull down on her wattles to help open the beak and take a look inside. If you have a helper, it will make it easier.

This is what Stridor sounds like.

Thank you so much! This is exactly what it sounds like- is this also the reason her face keeps going red to pale? When she has a fit it goes almost purple and she almost fell over earlier during. Seems that when she is sleeping or close the sound goes away or is less.

I will try to look again, got a peek when she had her beak all the way open with a coughing fit so I’m assuming I need to be looking deep in there. I will need help, she is a snuggler but flips her head when I try to open.

I would try to get a good look inside the beak for obstruction.

Your description sounds like Stridor which is when a piece of food/debris or possible mucous is obstructing the airway. Usually Stridor will resolve on its own within a day.

If you have difficulty looking in the beak, gently swaddle her in a towel to capture the wings. Pull down on her wattles to help open the beak and take a look inside. If you have a helper, it will make it easier.

This is what Stridor sounds like.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much! This is exactly what it sounds like- is this also the reason her face keeps going red to pale? When she has a fit it goes almost purple and she almost fell over earlier during. Seems that when she is sleeping or close the sound goes away or is less.

I will try to look again, got a peek when she had her beak all the way open with a coughing fit so I’m assuming I need to be looking deep in there. I will need help, she is a snuggler but flips her head when I try to open.

Yes, I would definitely try to look for an obstruction since she goes almost purple, this would indicate lack of oxygen, so she may have something in the airway.

Hope you find something or she's able to cough it up.

 

[LadyBubbles]

Yes, I would definitely try to look for an obstruction since she goes almost purple, this would indicate lack of oxygen, so she may have something in the airway.

Hope you find something or she's able to cough it up.

How do I go about getting it out if I do find something? I feel like I’m going to break her she is so dainty

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How do I go about getting it out if I do find something? I feel like I’m going to break her she is so dainty

Well, that's a good question!

If you do find something, you may be able to reach it with tweezers if you have some that are long enough.

 

[LadyBubbles]

Well, that's a good question!

If you do find something, you may be able to reach it with tweezers if you have some that are long enough.

I can’t get a look. I will try again tomorrow if this is still going on. This is so stressful and just breaks my heart. Terrified for her. I will keep checking on her through the night as she is in my bathroom with her two best flock mates normally would isolate but she seems so much calmer with them close.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I can’t get a look. I will try again tomorrow if this is still going on. This is so stressful and just breaks my heart. Terrified for her. I will keep checking on her through the night as she is in my bathroom with her two best flock mates normally would isolate but she seems so much calmer with them close.

How is she doing today?

Good idea bringing in her friends, they like to have company even when not feeling the best.

 

[LadyBubbles]

How is she doing today?

Good idea bringing in her friends, they like to have company even when not feeling the best.

She is better! The sound was barely there at 4 this morning and then stopped completely by 6 and I finally went to sleep. lol. Up all night like sitting with a sick child but got to listen to the purs of the other chickens that I think were trying to comfort her and I missed it dearly as we brooded them in our bathroom. She is not very vocal today but I suppose she is as tired as I am if not more. Eating and drinking, preening and snuggling just the same.

Thank you for checking on her and for your help!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She is better! The sound was barely there at 4 this morning and then stopped completely by 6 and I finally went to sleep. lol. Up all night like sitting with a sick child but got to listen to the purs of the other chickens that I think were trying to comfort her and I missed it dearly as we brooded them in our bathroom. She is not very vocal today but I suppose she is as tired as I am if not more. Eating and drinking, preening and snuggling just the same.

Thank you for checking on her and for your help!

I'm so glad she's doing better.

Eating/drinking and preening sounds good. Hopefully she'll be back to her old self by tomorrow.

I love to listen to them talking to one another. Some seem to have stronger bonds than others and they do comfort or sit with a sick friend.