Can Chickens get lockjaw?

[Conchis]

So I have a 5 month old Black Australorp hen that can't close her mouth. She's not having any trouble breathing. She's not gasping. She has her mouth open and even when she leans over to try to pick up some food, you can see her mouth close just a tiny bit, but it can't close and she stands back up. Her eyes looks clear, poop is good, but she just can't close her mouth. Any ideas?

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Do you have any pictures??? It could be from her beak.

 

[Conchis]

This a bad picture, but the best I can do.


She always keeps her mouth like this, even when she's trying to drink or eat.

 

[Conchis]

This is a little better for a picture I guess.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

Hmm maybe a defect. I cant really see the beak very well. Has it been this way forever??

 

[Conchis]

No, She has just started this. I noticed this morning when I was giving them a little oatmeal. She couldn't eat it. She'd peck at it with an open mouth and couldn't close it. Strange. It looks like a mechanical thing rather than an illness.

 

[willowbranchfarm]

You could try taking her to the vet. Do you think her jaw is broken???

 

[Conchis]

When she goes to roost tonight, I'll be able to do a much more thorough examination. The vets here won't touch a chicken. Dogs sure, Cats, you bet, cows bring 'em on...chickens....sorry, we don't handle poultry. I don't think her jaw is broken per se, but it looks like she might have a tmj kinda problem. She can open and close it a little, but she just keeps it open, she's no panting, not breathing heavy, not shaking her head like something is lodged. Thanks for the help though I really do appreciate your suggestions.

 

[Conchis]

Just for anyone that at sometime happens to search and get this thread. I took the hen inside the house last night and put a couple of drops of olive oil with and eyedropper in her mouth. I gently massaged her throat for several minutes. I didn't feel any kind of obstruction or anything. I gently closed her mouth for her and it seemed like maybe it hurt her, so I decided that she might be injured. I sort of massaged her jaws very gently and put her back with the rest of the girls. This morning she seems to be fine. She came out, she ate treats with the others and looks pretty good! Thanks for your input Rebecca.

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Wow! It's almost like she might have dislocated her jaw a bit?????