Crackling noise coming from Silkie hen body

[LipstickChicken]

Hello Everybody!

Recently I've noticed a silkie hen, DeeDee, that I have rescued about a month ago is acting strangely. At night I do not see her sit down or make noises like she used to- she used to coo and reply to me when i talked to her and then lay/sit down to sleep. Her wings are lifted as if she is hot, (its 65 degrees in the room she is in usually)and also her body is making a very odd sound- like rubbing two sandy stones together! its loud enough to hear when across the room at night. I checked to make sure that this wasn't coming from the lungs, and it seemed to be more in the digestive and rear end area.
Is this normal?
Otherwise she is acting fine and dandy during the day other then a few sneezes.
Her previous owners appeared to feed her nothing but bread and maybe grain as she goes insane when we bring out the whole grain bread leftovers, but she won't touch ANY veggies or fruits.

She eats her feed and has a good appetite otherwise. Also I have been giving her garlic water as some chicks we have seem to have an upper respiratory infect right now and I don't want that to pass to her. I fed her sheep yogurt recently as well. She is laying normally.

If you have any suggestions that would be awesome! Thanks

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. I'm not sure what her problem may be, but the crackling noise could be coming from her throat if there is mucus in the airway, or if she has some liquid in her throat backing up from the crop. How does her crop feel, and does it empty by morning? What symptoms are you seeing in your other chickens? Respiratory diseases can spread pretty quickly through the flock, and can be from viruses, bacteria and mycoplasma, as well as from fungal from mold.

 

[LipstickChicken]

Welcome to BYC. I'm not sure what her problem may be, but the crackling noise could be coming from her throat if there is mucus in the airway, or if she has some liquid in her throat backing up from the crop. How does her crop feel, and does it empty by morning? What symptoms are you seeing in your other chickens? Respiratory diseases can spread pretty quickly through the flock, and can be from viruses, bacteria and mycoplasma, as well as from fungal from mold.

Hi!
She is our only full grown hen at the moment, we recently bought some chicks from a reputable local seller and one of them was sneezing. The seller had said it was probably from allergies but a few days later we noticed mucus and bubbling eyes even after switching the bedding. The two other chicks now are just sneezing. They have been kept separately from the hen except once- when we thought it was just allergies. The chicks are on a corse of antibiotics and I am dosing the hen as well in precaution. The sickest chick seems much less lethargic and getting better but is still sneezing every minute- five minutes.The hen is also sneezing every once in a while and its nerve racking!
When she drinks her throat always makes an odd gas noise like a suppressed burp (I don't know if this is normal). I will check her crop in the morning, that is a great idea! I haven't owned chickens for a while and kind of forgot all of the bits and pieces.

Thank you!