Hen making very odd noise!

[HollyWoozle]

Hi BYC team!

This lunchtime one of our hens, Idunn, is making a strange noise which I have never heard before. At first I thought she might just be upset - my brother mentioned to my mum that he saw some evidence of the fox around and some of the other chooks do seem a bit unsettled. However Idunn also sneezed a few times so perhaps it’s respiratory?

She is a nervy chicken anyway so I can’t get too close, except if I take her off the perch in the dark later. She is walking around and eating fine and she has periods of being quiet (like when she’s eating!). She looks bright and alert and in fine form otherwise, it’s just a very unsettling noise! No other chickens are showing signs of anything. Idunn does have slightly scaly feet which you might notice - the mites have been treated regularly but her feet aren't quite back to normal yet. We have been getting three eggs a day lately but I noticed today that there was a different egg for the first time in months, so someone must've started laying again, just in case that is at all relevant.

We can’t easily get antibiotics here in the UK without prescription (I could try and get some fish ones online maybe) but I can take her to a vet if I must. Occasionally they get the odd sniffle and it clears by itself but this sound makes me want to sort it!

Video:

Any thoughts appreciated as always. Thank you.

ETA: I have only been able to study her from a few metres away but her eyes seem clear and face generally looks good. This hen has always had very wide pupils and always looks like she is high!

 

[Eggcessive]

The sound that Idunn is making is called stridor, a high pitched sound during both inspiration and expiration. It is usually from something partially blocking the airway, such as mucus, a small piece of food, or swelling of the tissue. It can be common when they have been eating. Most times it clears in a few hours when they cough it out, but if you also hear chirping or a sneeze, and see some head shaking, it may be a respiratory infection. Let us know if it clears up or not. I would get her drinking. Look her over for any nasal drainage, or a swollen eye with bubbles.

 

[HollyWoozle]

@Eggcessive - this is so helpful, thank you very much! We will have a look for nasal drainage and check her eyes. I can go out again when it's dark and pick her up for a better look.

I learn so much on BYC!

 

[HollyWoozle]

I've had a good look before shutting them up for the night and her eyes and nostrils are really clear and healthy looking up close so fingers crossed nothing sinister.