Hen having trouble breathing?

[jbrajdich]

Hi All!

I've got a Wyandotte hen that seems to be having trouble breathing. I held her and she seems to be wheezing and also noticed she has some foamy droppings.

Any ideas as to why?

Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your hen?
How old is she?
Have you added any chickens to your flock in the last 30days?
Check her to see if her crop is emptying overnight, for any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen. Difficulty breathing can be a number of things - if you have a vet that can perform testing on some of her fresh droppings that would be a good idea.

 

[jbrajdich]

She seems to be doing well overall. She's still eating and running around the yard with the flock. She's a year old now just about. No new flock members recently, but it almost seems like something is stuck in her throat or crop. How would you make sure something moves if that is the case?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Take a look inside the beak to see if there is anything stuck. It's hard to tell about crop function during the day since it's constantly going up and down to a certain degree because chickens eat/drink all day. Feel of it tonight - it should be full - then check it again first thing in the morning - it should be empty or flat. Also smell her breath to make sure there is no sour or yeasty odor which can indicate sour crop.