Chicken making strange sound! Help please!

[Coturnix Quail]

Don't get your hopes too high, sometimes they can just give up, or the eggs might never be fertile. I'm not sure if that's normal, but it might just be what they do. Are you sure she didn't go back at all? It may just be because it's her first time trying and RIR's don't usually go broody. I have had 1 pair of finches before and I have 2 now, and no matter what, they can try all they like, but she happens to break her broody habit almost every time, except one. It's either the eggs are almost developed, or just starting to develop and they throw them out of the nest, or for the first time, they finally hatched 2 out, and ended up killing them both. But, chickens are different. Also, could you tell me what breeds and how many of each chicken you have? I know it may be a little strange, but if you have other chickens that are better at brooding chicks, you might try giving the eggs to them?

 

[Linda V]

Hi! So my RIR hen is making some sounds that are troubling me. She is the only one in this flock that is making the sound. It sounds like a weird high pitched squeak. (?)
I will try and see it I can post a video or something so you can hear but she is in the process of laying an egg right now.
I looked her over and her eyes dont look swollen and there is no mucus coming out of her nose. Ive been googling and coming up empty. Do you guys have any idea what this could be? Any idea how to fix it? I am going to keep a close eye on her today but from what I know she is still eating and drinking. (I will update if I notice this to be false)

I noticed this about a week ago. But not as bad. It was one of those "well that was a weird sound" and went about my day. I am new to chicken owning so this might have been my own ignorant mistake! She is not gasping for air either like a lot of videos have been showing on youtube. I will be on here constantly today to update and reply!

Thanks in advance for anyone's help in this matter!

Wow...it sounds like your hen is making the same sound mine makes every now and then! She's not laying eggs now as it's molting season but every now and then she'll make a squawk sound and it freaks me out! She shows no signs of stress, illness, injury or anything at all and then she won't do it for a few days and then BAM! There she goes again!

Doesn't sound like any chicken sound I ever heard of!

I honestly don't have a clue why but I'd love to find out as would you...what does this loud, short "squawk" sound represent?

I've only been a Mother Hen myself 13 months now!

Linda in NC
8/31/17

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went into the coop today and I smell a slight ammonia smell in there. So ill be cleaning that out today. Would this be a cause of something....she is still in the nest box making raptor sounds at me.

@smoore7489 Can you post some photos or video of her?

It sounds like she may be what I call "playing broody". Is she still laying eggs?
Sometimes they can be a bit hormonal, display some broody behavior and stay on the nest for a short while after they lay their egg, but then go about their business. A true broody will only leave the nest once a day to eat/drink and they have one huge stinky poop a day, they growl/shriek and can be stubborn - if removed from the nest they raise a ruckus - getting back to that nest is all they think about - even my sweet tempered, laid back BO became an angry, bold and pushy bird trying to get back on the nest.
It's not unusual for them to make little noises at you when they are on the nest laying or getting ready to lay - I have a couple that growl/screech while on the nest everyday
I'm not a hatching expert at all - but if she just started laying about a month ago, it can take a few months for her eggs to become full size - so her eggs may be too small to use for hatching. If she becomes full blown broody - then it would be better to order some hatching eggs for her to sit on - but she could abandon the eggs at any time, so have a plan in place (incubator). https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya.../What-size-egg-is-best-for-hatching-H213.aspx

Just my thoughts.

 

[Linda V]

Thanks Wyrop...but she quit laying weeks ago...molting now. Neither of the hens have access to the nesting box - only the roosting area until they start laying again...probably this spring. Other than this weird sound she makes, she's perfectly fine in all aspects. If I had to describe the sound, I'd say it's a chicken trying to imitate a hawk! She did it again this morning a few times, so I'm thinking this is another issue of mine that will remain forever unanswered.


I wish I knew someone who had this nasty growth on their hen's leg and no, it is not a spur. It's been on her leg since we got her as a pullet a year ago.

Someone said it was a "mite mound" but since they no longer have mites, why is it still there?

It has diminished big time the past few weeks, but nobody seems to know what I should do with it. I wanted to either pierce it with a pin or snip about 1/8" off the end just to see if it's dead matter but if she acts like it hurts - I would stop immediately! I do not want to hurt my precious girl!

Anyway...I'm going to continue to apply NuStock to their legs every Sat. and put lots of hardwood ash in their coop, run and sand box to keep those critters at bay!

Take care, have a nice Holiday weekend and thanks for your time!

Linda in NC
9/1/17

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Linda V Hens can make all sorts of noises, they can make screeching sounds, coo and just jabber away. I have a rooster that talks and jabbers all the time, makes all sorts noises- I would love for someone to translate his rooster talk someday - LOL
I'm not sure what is going on with that mass on her leg - since it has reduced in size since the SLM have been eliminated, hopefully it will continue to do so with your care and applying the NuStock. I hope all goes well for you.

 

[Linda V]

Thanks for your message, Wyorp! That was most interesting - I didn't have any idea they could sound like that! Abigail is the vocal one - she's always muttering, talking, cackling, clucking, and I love it, but Henrietta is not vocal at all except when I give them a special treat - love that sound the best!

I'm going to start using the NuStock again - until that disgusting looking thing is gone! Here is a pic of it after Abby had 8 oil dips @ 5 mins. a piece! It almost looks to be "melting"

THIS WAS TAKEN TO SHOW SOMEONE THAT IT COULD NOT POSSIBLY BE A "SPUR"....so ignore those words okay?

Will let you know how things go in another month or so....in the meantime, I'll keep on using NuStock each Saturday! Glad I've got a ton of hardwood ash too!

Linda in NC
9/1/17

SEEMS TO HAVE "MELTED" IN APPEARANCE COMPARED TO HOW IT USED TO POKE OUT STRAIGHT FROM HER LEG AND WAS HARD LIKE A ROCK!

 

[BYCforlife]

One of my hens sneezes a lot when she eats chicken feed. I think it's too dusty for her.

 

[BYCforlife]

Also, does she only sneeze when in the coop? There could be too much dust in the coop.

 

[smoore7489]

@smoore7489 Can you post some photos or video of her?

It sounds like she may be what I call "playing broody". Is she still laying eggs?
Sometimes they can be a bit hormonal, display some broody behavior and stay on the nest for a short while after they lay their egg, but then go about their business. A true broody will only leave the nest once a day to eat/drink and they have one huge stinky poop a day, they growl/shriek and can be stubborn - if removed from the nest they raise a ruckus - getting back to that nest is all they think about - even my sweet tempered, laid back BO became an angry, bold and pushy bird trying to get back on the nest.
It's not unusual for them to make little noises at you when they are on the nest laying or getting ready to lay - I have a couple that growl/screech while on the nest everyday
I'm not a hatching expert at all - but if she just started laying about a month ago, it can take a few months for her eggs to become full size - so her eggs may be too small to use for hatching. If she becomes full blown broody - then it would be better to order some hatching eggs for her to sit on - but she could abandon the eggs at any time, so have a plan in place (incubator). https://www.mypetchicken.com/backya.../What-size-egg-is-best-for-hatching-H213.aspx

Just my thoughts.

Sorry for such a late reply!
Yeah she keeps getting off the nest and then going about her chicken day.
However, today she stayed on the nest till around 3 or so and its around 4:30 pm here and shes been staying close to the coop. I went in there to get the eggs and she watched me so attentively lol I guess its a gamble. Either way I plan to get another breed that is known for going broody in the spring. I am just holding on to hope that i can get some more little babies before then

 

[smoore7489]

Also, does she only sneeze when in the coop? There could be too much dust in the coop.

Yeah I believe it was the coop making them sneeze! Since then I have cleaned it out and put down more litter. So hopefully no more sneezing