Hen Lost Her Voice

[Flock Master64]

My Amber-Link hen has lost her voice. She cackles and I barely hear her at all. It's been going on for about 2 days. Several days ago she had a respiratory issue and she sounded like she had mucus in her throat. I had it had cleared up and she was ok but now this. I have her isolated in my garage with a heat lamp, food, and water. She eats, drinks and acts normal. She does lay an egg every day.

 

[Flock Master64]

The egg she laid today had a bunch of little bumps all over it

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your hen doing?

Bumps on an egg could be calcium deposits. This can be an indication of stress/disturbances or excess calcium in the diet. If it's just a "one time thing" then I would mark it up to a "glitch". Otherwise, check to see if she is distressed in any way - if she was feeling under the weather and seemed to be have respiratory issues this could be the cause.

Offer her some poultry vitamins and some extra protein like egg, tuna, mackerel or meat in addition to her normal feed. Watch to see if she is drinking well.

Let us know how she is doing.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/common-egg-quality-problems

 

[Flock Master64]

Thank you she acts completely normal. Eats, drinks, wants to go outside. It's just that her voice sounds soft and a little strained.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you

she acts completely normal. Eats, drinks, wants to go outside. It's just that her voice sounds soft and a little strained.

Check inside her beak just in case she has some food or something stuck in there.

If you noticed some respiratory symptoms earlier, keep watch on her. You may want to use some VetRx to see if that helps.

 

[Flock Master64]

Check inside her beak just in case she has some food or something stuck in there.

If you noticed some respiratory symptoms earlier, keep watch on her.  You may want to use some VetRx to see if that helps.

*face palm* yes of course.

I haven't seen any respiratory problems for a few days. I'm still planning on going to the feed store and getting some electrolyte to put in her water.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Quote:

I'm sure you know all these things! LOL

Electrolytes won't hurt for a day or two.

If she has improved since you separated her, look in your environment - things that could have caused some of her respiratory symptoms - dusty condition/dusty feed, roosting where ventilation is poor, moldy feed/leaves/bedding. Sometimes one chicken is a bit more sensitive than the others.

I am assuming her crop is functioning properly and she has no sour/yeasty smell to her breath(?) Crop issues - can at time looks respiratory related and I suspect could cause a change in voice if there is sour or impacted crop involved.