Need help! May be respiratory problem in this hen; making constant noise!

[hobbychickenfarms]

I was hoping someone could help me! My hen started making noises tonight non-stop and seems to be very distressed. I am wondering if its a respiratory problem but she doesn't appear to have trouble breathing. However, the sounds come out everytime she takes a breath. Anyone out there familiar with this? In all my years of chickenkeeping, I have never seen or heard this!
Really hoping someone else has!
I have a video but not sure how to upload it?

 

[A_Fowl_Guy]

To upload a video upload to YouTube and post the link here.

 

[Eggcessive]

That is called stridor, and comes from something partially blocking the airway, such as a piece of food, mucus, a foreign body, or swelling. Most of the time it clears up in a few hours, or by the next day. Sometimes they cough and clear it. I have seen it in a hen who inhaled her feed. If you hear sneezing as well, that can be from a respiratory infection. I would see if she will take some water or some very wet feed.

 

[hobbychickenfarms]

Great! Thanks so much! It does seem like something may be stuck and causing the wheezing. There is no sneezing or any other symptoms at all. I sure hope it clears up on its own. She is isolated in a cage right now and has water. I will add some wet feed eventually.

 

[hobbychickenfarms]

Thanks, Eggcessive! Problem resolved itself overnight just as you said. I had her in the barn but it stressed her out so bad and the sounds were getting worse, so I put her back in the coop with the other hens. Fortunately it was time for them to roost anyway, so she went right in and roosted and seems fine this morning! I am so grateful! I had posted on another blog and they all kept saying she was broody and wanted to set eggs but I have had hens go broody before (and never that one) and they never did that before. Thanks again and have a great day!

 

[Eggcessive]

That is good news. I am glad that it cleared up. I started to say last night that she didn’t need to be separated. They get a bit upset to be away from the others. I always leave mine together unless they are picking on one. She might have this again sometime, at least my same hen did it whenever she ate to greedily.

 

[hobbychickenfarms]

Well, I am really glad you let me know about this because I have never dealt with it before and it was a bit unnerving to say the least! And if it happens again, at least now I know what I am dealing with! Thanks for your help!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad that it was not anything serious, and you’re welcome.