New Pullets Are Honking? **2nd UPDATE**

[BeckyLa]

I have a BR roo that we named Goose because he has honked like a goose since he was born. Only recently, since he's reached full maturity does he sound at all like a rooster. Even now his voice is deeper than the other BR roos.

 

[SilkieChick00]

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They are Ameracauna/EE and 1 cochin.

They guy I got them from was overrun with chickens. He ordered whatever the hatchery had left at the end of the season. 250 birds I think he said. Well they are all in his barn and they have less then 2 sq ft. per bird. He just got in over his head, he even admited that. Sadly 3/4 of the flock is roosters!! Of course if you have a choice no one is going to pick them. I was really surprised he let me have my girls without insisting I take a roo or two. With the cramped conditions it just makes me worry even more. They are gorgeous girls though! He didn't know what they were until I told him. Probably shouldn't of told him since I think he added a buck or two to the price of them, lmao! I'll have to get my camera up and working soon.

 

[mrandmrschicken]

Hey Silkie;I am glad someone other than me noticed the honking sound! My EE pullets have done that since they were maybe, 1 1/2 months old. They are coming up on 5 months now and although they don't seem to honk like they used to, they still have a very throaty voice, deeper and louder than my other pullets! Here is a pic of the loudest of the three.

 

[SilkieChick00]

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Very pretty girl! We have one with the same coloring! I think they are just beautiful birds.

 

[basicliving]

I think you are doing all the right things - keep them separate and watch them for a month. But most of my pullets honk. Especially the White Faced Black Spanish. They went from peeping to honking and at 8 months old they still honk! I understand your alarm - I surely never expected to have a bunch of honking chickens!

Take care,
Penny

 

[LynneP]

One of our golden comets honks before accepting treats. Seems fine, she's done this from laying age onwards...*shrug*.

 

[SilkieChick00]

**UPDATE**

I just checked on the new pullets and one of them had their eye matted shut. There is another one or two that appear to have a red irratated eye also. I heard one of them sneeze while I was in there....
What's my next step? Vet's are out of the question today since it would be an emergency one (not even sure if they see chickens, lol). What would you guys do next? I don't want to infect my perfectly content chickens that are out in the coop now! Even if treated and saved will they still carry this with them?

 

[LynneP]

Okay, your honking is caused by illness, possibly respiratory. Must be separated from flock. More heat than flock. Darkened space, like cage, no drafts. Do you have any electrolytes for their water? Any with terramycin? Drawback to antibiotic is loss of eggs for a while. But electrolytes will keep them better hydrated than water, which is often important with bacterial or viral infections. Do you have any Visine or distilled water? *gentle* swabbing with first aid gauze, no rubbing might make eys comfortable. If not comfortable with this don't do it. If they don't drink, offer electrolyte water or sugar water by eyedropper.

 

[SilkieChick00]

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The new chickens are inside away from my previous hens. They are kept in our spare bedroom. It reads 72 degrees in here, is that ok? I can run to the store and get pedialite does this work? I'm not familiar with Terramycin, is this an antibotic? They aren't at egg laying stage yet, still about 2 more months to wait.

 

[LynneP]

Yes dilute the pedialyte, check with vet tomorrow, they sound comfy, watch closely...