Hen with sticky saliva on/in beak

[Welsh Ducky]

My one year old hen has sticky saliva on and in her beak, she isn’t moving around but just stays in one spot...not eating much, and occasionally breaths through her mouth. She’s free range so she’s getting fresh air, and has water close by. It seems like it’s uncomfortable for her to extend her lower jaw...and isn’t drinking much either...what do I do? Her crop is almost empty so I don’t think it’s sour crop and I examined her and she seems healthy, though she could use more weight...please help!

 

[Welsh Ducky]

Anytime she drinks water she starts salivating more.
And it seems like it’s really hard for her to open her mouth, and if she runs she opens her mouth like she gagging. @Miss Lydia do you have any advice? Help!!

 

[kumquat]

Hi - So sorry to hear about your sick hen. Hopefully someone on here who is more knowledgable than I will be able to help you out. Let me call some of the chicken gurus I've seen on the boards lately (I hope y'all don't mind me tagging you ) @Eggcessive, @Wyorp Rock, @oldhenlikesdogs, @aart, @azygous
Any ideas for @Welsh Ducky?

On another thread you mentioned that she is a ISA Brown/Golden comet hen, right?

Can you post photos (or better yet a video) of her? Visuals really help the community with diagnosis/feedback. A closeup of the her beak/the saliva, a pic where her whole body/posture can be seen, and one of some recent poop will be helpful.

 

[Saaniya]

Looks like Ascites to me but let everyone read it and diagnose

 

[Welsh Ducky]

Ok, I will try to get some videos/pictures today. Yes she is an ISA Brown/Golden comet hen. I thought it might be Ascites too...Thanks for the reply.

 

[Eggcessive]

It could be a sign of a respiratory infection, maybe nasal drainage. Is she having watery eyes, sneezing or coughing, open mouth breathing, gasping, swelling on the face or around an eye, wheezing, or rattly breathing? Some common respiratory diseases include infectious bronchitis, mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, ILT, and aspergillosis. They can last for weeks or months.

I would take a flashlight while someone holds her, and look inside her beak for any yellow patches or other abnormal looking tissue in her mouth and throat.

Ascites is fluid collecting in the lower abdomen, so it does not sound like that to me.

 

[Welsh Ducky]

No watery eyes, not coughing, she did something that looked like a sneez but didn’t make a noise...she has done some open mouth breathing. She’s not swelling anywhere. If she’s running she’ll stop and open her mouth like she’s gasping or gaging. she’s not wheezing and doesn’t have rattly breathing. Ok I will check her mouth/throat for abnormal things.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is your hen laying eggs? Can you pick her up, feel her breast bone (keel) area for weight loss, and then feel her lower belly for swelling or tightness? I would try several things to coax her to drink. Some are holding a measuring scoop up to her beak to eat and drink, adding a lot of water to a small bowl of chicken feed, and offering her some chopped egg or tuna. Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell tonic from feed stores can be helpful to use—2-3 ml daily given a drop at a time orally.

 

[azygous]

Hypersalivating can be from lots of different things. Respiratory infection, fowl cholera, gape worm, and rarely, from swallowing a toxic toad.

As in everything we don't really have much of a clue about the cause, trying different treatments can often help diagnose as well as treat the issue. But it's always a good idea to try the most benign treatment first.

Mix some molasses into some tepid water. Try to get the hen to swallow as much as possible so it fills his crop. Usually, chickens like the taste, so try dipping her beak first.

Meanwhile, try to locate an antibiotic in case you need to go to the next level of treatment.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

sticky saliva on and in her beak, she isn’t moving around but just stays in one spot...not eating much, and occasionally breaths through her mouth...seems like it’s uncomfortable for her to extend her lower jaw....Her crop is almost empty so I don’t think it’s sour crop....
If she’s running she’ll stop and open her mouth like she’s gasping or gaging

I'm a little confused by your description - is she lethargic, not moving, not eating/drinking or is she running around outside?

Does she have a smell to her breath? Even though a crop is mainly empty there can still be a problem. Is she pooping?
Were you able to take a look inside her beak for any obstruction, plaques or lesions?