Funny looking throat

[Abriana]

I was checking out one of my Ameraucana hens who is about a year and three months, because she wasn't eating as much (empty crop for the last few nights) and i have been having some canker problems. I thought she had canker but it was just a bit of corn and then i noticed that her throat looked a little funny. the hole that her food goes down seemed to be closer to the beak than normal, instead of further down the throat like the rest of my hens, then it would kind of flip over to one side, like one of the sides of the hole wasn't attached. In her daughter Grace, who is under a year old and an Ameraucana Columbian Rock, there is the same thing, but the hole is further back and doesn't flip to one side. I am really worried. Is this why she isn't eating? I can try to post a picture later. She looks overall healthy, clear eyes and seems to be laying and drinking. I fed her some bread and it kind of went to the back, behind the hole. I gave her water and massaged her throat and then it was gone and after the bread her crop feels more full. I gave her medicine for canker, just in case too. Can anyone help? Is this normal or something else?

 

[Ravynscroft]

If you are referring to this hole...

(NOT my pic, just borrowed)

Then that is NOT her esophagus... that is her trachea, her windpipe... do not try to put food/water down it as that could make her aspirate...

 

[Abriana]

Yes! Thats just what I'm looking at. Could she die from it?

 

[Ravynscroft]

Yes! Thats just what I'm looking at. Could she die from it?

From it moving around or food/liquid going down it? It should move back and forth a bit, that's normal...

 

[Abriana]

I checked last night and her crop was much fuller than normal. Her throat looks better now.