Chicken wheezing then hiccup

[bpeikes]

I've got one of my Ameraucanas which is constantly making a hee-haw kind of wheeze and then about every 30 seconds or so, she hiccups. I've had to have my girls penned for the last week, I normally let them have free reign of the backyard.

I've taken her out of the pen, since she doesn't seem like she's going anywhere, but she is still wheezing and hiccuping. It almost sounds like there is something stuck in her throat or chest but I can't see anything down her throat when I open her mouth up. Otherwise she seems to be in good health, i.e. eyes are clear, stool is normal, feathers are fine.

I have a feeling that if I don't figure out what's wrong, she doesn't have much time to live. If anyone has any ideas feel free to contact me directly at 917-687-8773. She's just walking around now breathing hard. I'm even considering trying to do somekind of chicken heimlich manuvuer, but I'm not sure if that could make it worse.

 

[dlhunicorn]

you could soak a piece of bread in some olive oil... that might do it...
...or, it could be gapeworm...does she stretch her neck out as though she is trying to dislodge something?

 

[bpeikes]

She's makes a wheezing sound as she inhales and exhales. I checked her throat and I didn't see any worms. I can try the olive oil thing, but I'm not sure I can get her to eat. How do you recommend I get the piece of bread down her throat?

 

[bpeikes]

PS, she is not stretching her neck out at all. She has been standing up the entire time though. The wheeze seems to be louder when she exhales.

 

[bpeikes]

Gave her a piece of bread with some olive oil on it. Didn't seem to help at all. Beginning to think that's beyond help.

 

[melsnow]

I also had a hen doing this. that happened a year ago and she's just fine. Maybe it was something different but it was like a hiccup. I thought she'd pass away, but she's okay. Good luck!

 

[bpeikes]

She's still alive, and the coughing has stopped. Looks like maybe she was just stressed. I'll keep my eye on her for the next couple of days though. Thanks for all of the help everyone.

 

[tiffwilhelm]

Whatever became of your chickens? The last two days, I have noticed a strange squawk or "toot" kind of noise coming out of my Maran. It's funny sounding, like a hiccup. When I got up close to her to listen and look tonight, I noticed she was wheezing a bit. My Buff Orpington is wheezing too, but not making the strange noise. My other two hens seem perfectly fine. Eyes are clear on all 4, energy level, appetite, etc. all seem fine. They roam freely in the yard all day and spend the night in their house. Should I be worried about this? I'm concerned she'll be fine today and dead tomorrow. Yikes! Please send info if you have it!!

 

[bpeikes]

She's fine now. I think it was just stress. There was some constuction going on around my backyard, and I had to have them cooped up for a bit which always stresses them out because they're normally have free range of the backyard.

 

[dlhunicorn]

gapeworm is always a possibility with these strange noises and gaging and wheezing when there is no obvious congestion or other bacterial infection.