Chicken seems to be distressed. Help!

[Grr8scot]

Hello, I am new to chickens and I have a Sienna who has coop mates that started laying the other day. I noticed this one is not as active and keeping separated from the others. Today, I went to the coop and she started stretching her neck as far as she could, ipeniop her mouth and "squawking". She does the action repeatedly ever minute or two. She doesn't seem to be having respiratory issues. I worried she is choking like something is stuck. Any idea what my issue may be?

 

[chickens really]

Not really sure what your actually trying to describe..?

 

[casportpony]

Welcome to BYC! Can you take a video, upload it to YouTube or Vimeo, then copy/paste the link here?

What you're describing sounds like a possible respiratory infection or a possible partial foreign body obstruction.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hello, I am new to chickens and I have a Sienna who has coop mates that started laying the other day. I noticed this one is not as active and keeping separated from the others. Today, I went to the coop and she started stretching her neck as far as she could, ipeniop her mouth and "squawking". She does the action repeatedly ever minute or two. She doesn't seem to be having respiratory issues. I worried she is choking like something is stuck. Any idea what my issue may be?

Hi @Grr8scot
Can you upload a video of her, post it to youtube, then provide us a link?
Photos too.
How old is your girl?
What do you feed your girls, including treats?

Feel of her crop and tell us what that feels like - hard, soft, full, empty, squishy, doughy, fluid or air filled.

 

[Eggcessive]

A video would help, but make sure that she is not just squawking. Does she seem in distress? Feel her crop (it should be empty first thing in morning, then gradually fill up during the day with food and water.)

I had an ancona hen once who would hang around the others near the nest boxes and squawk loudly every morning before she went into the box and layed her egg. She created quite a lot of noise, and was much noisier than any rooster, but nothing was wrong.

 

[casportpony]

A video would help, but make sure that she is not just squawking. Does she seem in distress? Feel her crop (it should be empty first thing in morning, then gradually fill up during the day with food and water.)

I had an ancona hen once who would hang around the others near the nest boxes and squawk loudly every morning before she went into the box and layed her egg. She created quite a lot of noise, and was much noisier than any rooster, but nothing was wrong.

Good point!

 

[Grr8scot]

Her crop feels empty this morning. I noticed that her comb is not growing. My other ladies have nice full, bright red combs and hers is almost stunted in growth and is pink with very light tips.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Her crop feels empty this morning. I noticed that her comb is not growing. My other ladies have nice full, bright red combs and hers is almost stunted in growth and is pink with very light tips.

Can you post some photos?
Is she still making the noise/stretching her neck?
How old is she?

Some pullets are slower to mature. If she is eating/drinking, pooping and active then give her time.

 

[Eggcessive]

How old is she? Some chickens can be stunted from birth, but sometimes if they get coccidiosis as a chick, it can affect their growth and development. Combs and wattles usually become red when they begin to lay eggs. Has she ever laid an egg? How you ever wormed your chickens? Can you describe how her poops look or post a picture?

 

[micstrachan]

Does it look like this? My Brahma does this occasionally when she eats too fast. My Buckeye (who recently had a crop problem) has done this a couple times lately, too. Are yours on crumble? Mine are, and it’s almost like the powder dries out their throats temporarily.