gasping hen

[cchandle]

I came home tonight to find one of my 3 month old chickens (BR) laying down away from the others extending her neck and making a gasping/honking sound. She is doing on a continuous basis. This is the first I've seen her doing this. She is listless but relatively brighteyed. Any ideas?? Thank you!

 

[Judy]

She could have a piece of food caught, or she could have gapeworms -- or something else, of course. You could start with a good look in her mouth and throat with a good flashlight.

 

[cchandle]

My husband and I opened her beak and looked down her throat with a flashlight and couldn't see anything. She was freeranging with her buds this afternoon and evening and I didn't notice anything wrong. When I came back to lock them up a few hours later,she was displaying those symptoms. She sounds so pitiful

 

[jjthink]

Oh, poor thing, how horrible and frightened she must be. She could have something stuck in her throat, she could have respiratory issue...who knows...but she can't go on like this. See if you can get her to drink something or eat cut up bits of grape or blueberry,,,something that might help clear her throat if it's just something stuck - watch to see if the situation subsides. If it's a respiratory ailment from an infection she may need meds. Keep her really comfortable and pleasantly warm.
Honestly, if it doesn't subside quickly you have an emergency on your hands that only a vet may be able to resolve in time. And here it is at night.....not good...unless not night where you are?. JJ