Hen with open beak breathing

[aliciaFarmer]

I have an Easter Egger who for the past few days has been running around with her beak open. She seems totally normal, has laid eggs completely regularly (she's my 6 to 7 egg a week champ), has normal energy levels and no odd sounding breathing, no coughing or sneezing or nostril discharge. But the open beak thing is not typical for her so I'm wondering if anyone else has ever heard of or seen this. Google isn't answering my questions in this case so I hoped someone here may have a clue as to what could be going on. I don't want to ignore it even though she seems fine in case it's something that needs attention. Plus I'm paranoid because a wild bird has found its way into the chicken house 4 times recently.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have an Easter Egger who for the past few days has been running around with her beak open. She seems totally normal, has laid eggs completely regularly (she's my 6 to 7 egg a week champ), has normal energy levels and no odd sounding breathing, no coughing or sneezing or nostril discharge. But the open beak thing is not typical for her

Can you take a video of her? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

Have you looked inside her beak for any obstructions?

 

[micstrachan]

What are the temperatures like where you live right now? Could she be running warm? Also please che k to see if she feels bloated in the abdomen (fluffy area between her legs and below her vent.)

 

[aliciaFarmer]

Can you take a video of her? Upload to youtube and provide a link.

Have you looked inside her beak for any obstructions?

She's a bit annoyed with me from picking her up and inspecting her the past couple of days so she's not letting me anywhere near her right now, unfortunately. I tried to check to see if she had any obstruction last night, yesterday morning and they before but couldn't see anything though she wasn't allowing a very good view. I will have to wait until this evening once she's roosted up. My chickens free range on almost 7 acres so she ran when she saw me coming when she knew I had no treats. (She's never been one for much touching like most of my others.) She's not doing anything abnormal though. Just walking around with a slightly open beak. No sound, no gasping, nothing abnormal. Just envision an Easter Egger with an open beak otherwise acting totally normal. That's what's perplexing me most.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

What are the temperatures like where you live right now? Could she be running warm? Also please che k to see if she feels bloated in the abdomen (fluffy area between her legs and below her vent.)

I'm in Oregon so it's rainy and in the 40s to 50s. Definitely not warm but that's exactly what she looks like. No bloating or abnormal feelings in her abdomen. I checked yesterday and the day before.

I will say though that going through my egg calendar, she has laid for the last 16 days in a row with only a one-day break before that, 10 in a row before then. I don't know if it's relevant but definitely remarkable or noteworthy.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

Update: she got over her apprehension of me letting her touch her last night long enough for me to check down her throat again. She hates me again now but I noticed a thin piece of plant or stem right along the inside of her beak that looked like it went down her throat and after much ado, pulled it out. It was about five inches long! It was so close to her beak I didn't see it the first time. Thank you guys! No more open mouth breathing. I love this community so much and appreciate you all. (Google made me think she had Newcastle disease.)

 

[ShannonR]

I'm glad you found the answer! I'll bet your hen is a lot happier now.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: she got over her apprehension of me letting her touch her last night long enough for me to check down her throat again. She hates me again now but I noticed a thin piece of plant or stem right along the inside of her beak that looked like it went down her throat and after much ado, pulled it out. It was about five inches long! It was so close to her beak I didn't see it the first time. Thank you guys! No more open mouth breathing. I love this community so much and appreciate you all. (Google made me think she had Newcastle disease.)

That's great! Glad you were able to examine her more closely and find that plant stem.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

I'm glad you found the answer! I'll bet your hen is a lot happier now.

She is so much happier, thank you! I feel so bad that I missed it the first time.

 

[aliciaFarmer]

That's great! Glad you were able to examine her more closely and find that plant stem.

Thank you, me too! And she doesn't hate me anymore which is also a plus. The next time she saw me she ran right up to me and sat on my foot almost in gratitude like a little snuggle, looking up at me all cute.