HELP! Chicken making weird noise and stretching neck out!

[EricaCAL]

You can take a flahlight and look into her throat for anything obvious. Where do you live, and is the climate cold? Chickens do not need warmth in their coops. Warm temps for healthy chickens can actually cause respiratory diseases by increasing the breathing rate due to being overheated. As winter temperatures get lower, a chicken kept in a heated coop will not be able to go outside and tolerate cold temperatures. Sorry if I have misunderstood you, but do not heat your coop if the other chickens are doing okay. They have down and feathers, and can tolerate temperatures around zero F in winter. High overhead air circulation can help to get rid of humidity that can cause frostbite and stuffy breathing.

Hi Eggcessive! Yes, you read me correctly that I am heating their roosting area. I am going to turn off the heater. I had no idea it could make them sick to have that warmth. I have also opened up their vents at night now to circulate air!

Alice is doing MUCH better this morning! She is not wheezing anymore and she ate some food and we got some fluids into her via syringe. I also gave her some Nutri Drench for vitamins to help keep her energy up.

Do you think I should put her back outside with the other chickens yet? it is supposed to be high 60's here today so not cold. Thank you SOOOOO much for all your help!!!!

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, by all means, I woukd put her back outside to enjoy the fresh air and hang out with her friends. Keep in mind, I am at the less experienced end of the spectrum, so take that with a grain of salt. Good luck!

 

[EricaCAL]

So happy to report that Alice has rejoined the flock!!! 25 hours of solid TLC worked!!! I really think she had something lodged in her throat that needed to clear because she has no symptoms of disease other than the hoarse cluck. She was eating and drinking with her flock mates and is running all over the place and preening! I hope this thread will help others if their chickens show signs of the same thing.

Thank you to everyone who responded with their information, especially Eggcessive! I am also treating everyone with the PoultryRX and ACV in their water. I have also turned off the heater and wont turn it on unless it gets very, very cold. <3 <3

 

[Eggcessive]

Great news, and thank you for the update.

 

[micstrachan]

Yippee! Great news!