My hen is honking/wheezing

[serendip]

My seemingly-healthy six month old hen is making a honking noise with every breath. She is energetic, eating and drinking well, doesn't display any secretions of the mouth, eyes, or nose, and hasn't sneezed or coughed. The only other chickens she has been around are my other 5 and none of them are new additions.

What could this be? Your input is greatly appreciated.

 

[GreenGoddess]

Is she doing this all the time.. We had a problem with gnats a few weeks back when it rained and a gnat went up my roos nose and he started honking.. he did it about 5 times and then stopped.. Guess he "sneezed" it out....

Goddess

 

[threehorses]

It could be a number of things - simply something in her airway, gapeworms, bronchial inflammation (like occurs with infectious bronchitis), or a respiratory illness.

I would put your ear against her and see if you can pinpoint the origin of the noise: top of throat, mid throat, near the ribs/back.

You can also help her with some VetRx which can help reduce irritation and inflammation in her airway. the 2 ounce bottle of any "species" of VetRx is plenty (rabbit, cat, poultry - or Marshal Pet Peter Rabbit Rx liquid from the pet store). Use it mixed 1/2 and 1/2 with water (a few drops of each, the water very hot - stir in a cup til warm and mixed) on q-tips to swab her nares (nostrils), the roof of her mouth, and put a couple of drops down her beak.

If she hasn't been wormed, I'd consider using fenbendazole paste (SafeGuard for horses - 1 bb sized piece in the beak) in case of gapeworm which actually lodge in the airway and can cause that sort of noise/issue.