Hen pants while sleeping..... in winter?

[Ruby Rogue]

This is BYC. Thirty one people are sewing chicken pajama bottoms as we speak now that they got the idea.

Poopy pants. Save$$ on pdz.

 

[K0k0shka]

Why do you have heat in your coop? If it only gets down to the 20s, you don't need heat. Chickens can handle 20s just fine.

How's your ventilation? Does the coop get plenty of fresh air? Respiratory problems can also be caused by a buildup of ammonia in the air. It evaporates from their poop and rises with the warm air to the top of the coop, where they sleep. If there isn't enough venting area open at the top for the ammonia to escape from, it builds up. Chickens' respiratory systems are more sensitive than ours and can be damaged by ammonia levels much lower than what would affect us. Before it starts smelling and becoming an obvious problem. So make sure the coop is well ventilated.

How's her breathing during the day? When she's outside? If she breathes normally during the day and only pants like this at night in the coop, then your problem is in the coop. This theory is also supported by the fact that she has started laying her eggs in the run - she doesn't want to go in the coop, there's something about the coop that's bothering her. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried sleeping in the run at night next, too.

 

[PeepAndPeck]

Thank you all for your replies! It ended up being sour crop or some sort of crop issue. She bounced right back after I treated her with the coconut oil and massage. She’s back to sleeping through the night! You guys are the best!!

 

[PeepAndPeck]

Why do you have heat in your coop? If it only gets down to the 20s, you don't need heat. Chickens can handle 20s just fine.

How's your ventilation? Does the coop get plenty of fresh air? Respiratory problems can also be caused by a buildup of ammonia in the air. It evaporates from their poop and rises with the warm air to the top of the coop, where they sleep. If there isn't enough venting area open at the top for the ammonia to escape from, it builds up. Chickens' respiratory systems are more sensitive than ours and can be damaged by ammonia levels much lower than what would affect us. Before it starts smelling and becoming an obvious problem. So make sure the coop is well ventilated.

How's her breathing during the day? When she's outside? If she breathes normally during the day and only pants like this at night in the coop, then your problem is in the coop. This theory is also supported by the fact that she has started laying her eggs in the run - she doesn't want to go in the coop, there's something about the coop that's bothering her. I wouldn't be surprised if she tried sleeping in the run at night next, too.

I will add some more ventilation. Thank you!

 

[amyduck]

Thank you all for your replies! It ended up being sour crop or some sort of crop issue. She bounced right back after I treated her with the coconut oil and massage. She’s back to sleeping through the night! You guys are the best!!

That's fantastic! I'm wondering though, did you see her panting during the day at all? My hen breathes with her beak open in the evening, and at night sometimes... but never during the day.... (she sleeps in a basket indoors since she can't walk right now- that's why I know she's doing that at night...)

 

[PeepAndPeck]

That's fantastic! I'm wondering though, did you see her panting during the day at all? My hen breathes with her beak open in the evening, and at night sometimes... but never during the day.... (she sleeps in a basket indoors since she can't walk right now- that's why I know she's doing that at night...)

It was just at night

 

[PeepAndPeck]

That's fantastic! I'm wondering though, did you see her panting during the day at all? My hen breathes with her beak open in the evening, and at night sometimes... but never during the day.... (she sleeps in a basket indoors since she can't walk right now- that's why I know she's doing that at night...)

Best of luck to you and your hen!

 

[Mamatomany123]

Glad you got it sorted out. But you definitely dont need to give heat. We just got down to -11. My girls were fine. The wind made it feel worse but because our coop is draft free it stayed warmer in the coop. We also added straw bales for them to hunker down in but, again, we got way colder. When we are in the 20s my chickens are in heaven.

 

[PeepAndPeck]

After around a week of being completely fine, my hen started panting again. Is this where the crop bib comes in? I gave her some more coconut oil but it wasn’t as effective this time around. Also, I checked her crop before she went to sleep and in the morning, it was almost completely empty. Should I be treating her for sour crop instead even though her crop seems to empty? Thank you!

 

[aart]

Should I be treating her for sour crop instead even though her crop seems to empty?

No.
So, open beaked panting at night only?
Is she otherwise eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK?