Help Me ID Sound (Audio Included) - Hen Congestion/ Can't Walk

[ComfortSoup]

Hello,

I've got a hen that has been unable to walk for the past two weeks. At the advice of forum members we have tried apple vinegar and aspirin and other ideas with no luck.

Today while eating she was making a sound as if she was congested. I'm posting an audio clip of it below. She only seems to make it when eating.

Can anyone diagnose why she is making that sound and if it could be connected to her being unable to walk?

Any help would be appreciated. She has been a good chicken but we will need to figure out a solution soon.

 

[Weeg]

That is quite odd. Do you see any ocular drainage, odd shaped pupils, bubbles in the eyes, nasal drainage, or similar? Can you look in her mouth and see if you notice anything abnormal? When was the last time she laid an egg? Seems like a long time for reproductive issues, but its good to cross that off.
Is their anything wrong with her legs? Swelling, heat, or tenderness? Did you check the bottoms of her feet for bumble foot?
What do you feed? What is she eating in that bowl? What do her poops look like?
Can you feel her abdomen? Does it feel enlarged, hard, squishy, doughy or normal? I hope that these questions can help more experienced members figure out what might be going on. Crossing my fingers for your hen.
@Wyorp Rock @azygous and @Eggcessive

 

[azygous]

Give this a day or so, and it's most likely to resolve on its own. This is a sound chickens make when they accidentally suck water down their airway.

 

[Weeg]

Give this a day or so, and it's most likely to resolve on its own. This is a sound chickens make when they accidentally suck water down their airway.

Any thoughts on the paralysis/being unable to walk?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've got a hen that has been unable to walk for the past two weeks. At the advice of forum members we have tried apple vinegar and aspirin and other ideas with no luck.

Today while eating she was making a sound as if she was congested.

I would check to see if her crop is emptying overnight.

She's still not able to walk at all? Looking at your other thread, I would say that she may have Marek's or something else going on. Hard to know unless a necropsy is performed.

Does she lay eggs? Any bloat or fluid in the abdomen?

 

[Eggcessive]

The sound in the video is crackles or rales, from mucus in the airways. It could be from a respiratory issue or crop contents coming back up into the throat. How oild is she? Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Does she normally lay eggs?

 

[ComfortSoup]

@Weeg, @Wyorp Rock , @Eggcessive - Thanks for the advice/ input - These aren't actually my hens but I'm watching them for a friend for a few months so everything has been very helpful.

Do you see any ocular drainage, odd shaped pupils, bubbles in the eyes, nasal drainage, or similar? Can you look in her mouth and see if you notice anything abnormal?

Didn't notice any of these. She has always had sort of respirational sounds (even going years back) but it has never been this bad.

When was the last time she laid an egg?

It would have been at least the two weeks since she hasn't been walking. I haven't checked if she is egg bound because I've never done it but

Is their anything wrong with her legs? Swelling, heat, or tenderness? Did you check the bottoms of her feet for bumble foot?

Nothing wrong with her feet, they seem quite fine. As best I can tell no bumble foot.

What is she eating in that bowl?

She has been eating a lot as best I can tell. Been feeding her a combination of field corn, and what I believe is flax seed and sunflower seeds. She seems to particularly enjoy the corn and sunflower seeds. The past few days have been feeding her oatmeal with some vitamins.

I would check to see if her crop is emptying overnight.

I wasn't aware that chickens even had a crop so I will monitor this. At this point she has eaten breakfast and the crop doesn't appear overly bloated (I can't even tell there is a crop).

She's still not able to walk at all?

No, still nothing. If you put her on her hind quarters she can sort of stay there upright for a while but she doesn't seem to even try to use her legs.

How oild is she? Was she vaccinated for Mareks disease? Does she normally lay eggs?

She is at least 3+ years old.

As far as I know hasn't been vaccinated for anything. She hasn't been showing any signs of Mareks disease as far as I can tell (particularly her eyes seem fine). Also, I know it wasn't recommended but I left her in the same coop with our other ten hens and they haven't seemed to be showing signs of any ailment.

I'm not sure on her egg numbers but I know she hasn't laid any for the past two weeks. Haven't checked her for stuck egg because I don't know how but if someone thinks that is something worth trying I could try it.

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Again I do appreciate everyone's help. I'm a bit outside of my depth here as these aren't my chickens and there isn't a poultry doctor anywhere close. I think we will give her another day or two and then put her down.

 

[Weeg]

She has been eating a lot as best I can tell. Been feeding her a combination of field corn, and what I believe is flax seed and sunflower seeds. She seems to particularly enjoy the corn and sunflower seeds. The past few days have been feeding her oatmeal with some vitamins.

Does the owner of these chickens feed a balanced feed? Does the rest of the flock eat the same mix? That mix of seeds is not balanced and not able to sustain a hen. Esspecaily a high production breed like her who lays a lot of eggs. It lacks all kind of nutrients, and is high in fat, especially the sunflower seeds and flax. Its a recipe for fatty live disease.
I understand that these are not your birds, so you probably don't have control over what the owner feeds. Do you think you could pick up a bag of all flock, grower, or layer feed for the owner and start feeding this hen and that flock that? That mix is doing her much more harm than good.
A question for the other members. Is it possible that her walking issues could be caused by a vitamin deficiency from this feed mix?
OP, if that is the case, then your also going to want to get a Vitamin B complex and start giving her that. It will help with the leg issues and vitamin deficiency.

 

[Weeg]

It would have been at least the two weeks since she hasn't been walking. I haven't checked if she is egg bound because I've never done it but

Its highly unlikely that this is egg binding since its been going on for so long. Thats good though. Egg binding is a pretty tricky situation.

I wasn't aware that chickens even had a crop so I will monitor this. At this point she has eaten breakfast and the crop doesn't appear overly bloated (I can't even tell there is a crop).

Do you know where the crop is? This picture shows you-

To check if her crop is emptying, feed her and feel her crop. You should be able to feel the food in the crop, or the crop enlarging. If you don't feel that, then she isn't eating enough/anything. Before bed, her crop should be semi-large. Lock her up and don't give her access to any food or water while she's in her pen. In the morning, her crop should be empty and flat. If it is not, and there is still food in it than she could have a crop issue going on.

Also, I know it wasn't recommended but I left her in the same coop with our other ten hens and they haven't seemed to be showing signs of any ailment.

I don't have any experience with Mareks, so I'll let everyone else help with that.
I do recommend that you separate her from the others. That can be as simple as taking a dog crate and placing it inside the coop and putting her in their. Then you can monitor her crop, her foods, her food intake, etc. If she can't walk, she is going to fall victim to major bullying, plus she wont be be able to get to food or water if the hens drink and eat all of hers.

Again I do appreciate everyone's help. I'm a bit outside of my depth here as these aren't my chickens and there isn't a poultry doctor anywhere close. I think we will give her another day or two and then put her down.

I'd like to give you a huge pat on the back for what your doing. These aren't your birds and your still trying to do your best to help them. Nice work!
I would wait for the other members to respond before putting her down, maybe we can find a treatable diagnosis. If its a vitamin deficiently, then feeding a complete feed and Vitamin B complex should help.
Again, nice work! I hope were abel to diagnose her with a treatment.

 

[ComfortSoup]

@Weeg - Thanks for the help!

Does the owner of these chickens feed a balanced feed?

I should also mention that the chickens are able to roam around on a few acres of farmland so I assume they get food that way too (though obviously with not being able to walk this chicken would not be able to take advantage of that). I will look into the a more robust food solution though.

Do you know where the crop is? This picture shows you-

This morning the crop didn't appear full. With the chicken not being able to stand up it is a bit harder to tell but it doesn't/ didn't appear full.

If she can't walk, she is going to fall victim to major bullying

That is something I should look into. I'm sure I'm just being naïve but I haven't noticed any bullying yet fortunately. My window looks out on their coop so I look out on her every few minutes. But I do agree at the very least so that I know how much she is eating.

If its a vitamin deficiently, then feeding a complete feed and Vitamin B complex should help

I will look into this - thanks!

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This morning we put her in a small container with some hay that I think is helping her feel better. I think that without being able to use her legs she becomes a bit to front heavy and with the container she is able to lean against it a bit and be in more of her normal sitting position. She was grooming herself for the first time in a week which I assume is a good sign.