Just found out my EE has a cleft palate

[wannabe_goatmom]

She was sitting on my lap panting and I could see the roof of her mouth and it is split from about half way all the way to the back. She has always made a weird honking noise so I guess that is why. Has anyone else had a chicken with a cleft palate? Should I expect her to live a normal life or do I need to give her special care? She will be a year old on July 27.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

 

[Sunny Side Up]

I believe this is perfectly normal. If it's what I think you're describing then I've seen this in all my chickens. I don't know what the name of it is, or what its function might be, I think it has connection with their sinuses. I apply a medicine called Vet Rx to that place when they have sinus/eye infections, and that is also the place you stick the knife when you're pithing chickens for slaughter.

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

Thanks for the quick reply

If it is normal do you think there is another reason why she makes the honking noise when she is panting? I have 14 chickens and none of the others make that noise.
I tried to look in a couple of their beaks but they were not very cooperative LOL

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Hmmm, it's possible that she could have a cleft that is shaped differently from the norm & so she makes a different noise when she pants. Or it could mean that she has some kind of respiratory ailment. Does she have any other symptoms, like runny eyes or nostrils, a wheezing sound when you put your ear to her breast? If so, then you can research the best treatment for that. Otherwise, she just might be a honker.

 

[wannabe_goatmom]

I went out and checked for runny eyes and nose and she doesn't have either. She also doesn't sound like she's wheezing but with the constant honking it's hard to tell. I also got one of the others to let me see in her mouth. The one who is doing the honking has a wider split in the roof of her mouth and toward the front it is shaped like a circle. It's kind of hard to explain. Maybe the circular shape at the front is causing the honking.
Thanks so much for helping.
Billie Jo