Please help! Young Orpington lost her voice, now the rest of my pullets seem to be going “hoarse”too

[Duckie1153]

Hi guys. I am a first time free range chicken owner. I purchased 1 black Orpington girl, a white (ish) polish girl ( I think) and 2 silkie/Polish mixes. They were 6-8 wks old when I got them which makes them currently about 12-14 weeks of age, the black Orpington (Matilda) being the oldest and biggest lol.

My concern is that over a week ago Matilda started having this very ugly hoarse clucking sound where it sounded like she was frustrated or anxious that she couldn’t get the sound out. She doesn’t have any other symptoms of a respiratory infection as far as I know but it did all start on a day where it was about 96 defreees and felt like 105 because of humidity. She was walking around with her mouth open all day poor thing couldn’t cool down no matter how many ice cubes I gave her. Her comb was also pale. I sprayed the ground they forage around with water several times with did dramatically cool the area. I also got some electrolytes and vita-drench from the tractor supply and that seemed to help her a bit. Could this have possibly lead to some damage from stress or something with her? I feel so bad for her. I love her. If she’s the most timid chicken I’ve ever met. She’s just terrified of me no matter how many treats I give her or how gentle I am. She’s the only one I can’t pick up, the white polish Daisy I can’t seem to get off my lap

Also, it seems to be affecting the others now as well. It’s been over a week and first the rooster went hoarse but I also saw him opening his mouth and stretching his neck out kind of like chicks do so maybe he was trying to crow? Or maybe it is a symptom? Idk. Oh the black one who had this first also does the mouth thing but I gave her some chick grit and I haven’t noticed it again since.

Also I live in Michigan and it’s extremely wet/cold/rainy then suddenly hot and sunny the next day, I have their coop sort of under some very tall but thinned out trees, perhaps they are just not getting enough sunlight? They can walk over to patches of sun or be completely in it whenever they want & they do this sometimes but not all day long. Am I doing something wrong here? I love them all to death they really are such unique personalities each and every one of them. And I have 2 Silkie chicks a few weeks old and I wouldn’t want to transfer anything to them though I am careful. (Pics included for attention) (if you’d like to help me sex them I am guessing I have 3 hens and 1 roo, the Polish/silkie mix with big wattles- but truly have no idea what I’m doing heh)

Oh and they have all been eating and drinking normally, which is often and happily

Thank you friends, any and all advice is appreciated

 

[itspebbl]

You are right about the silkie-polish mix being a cockerel. Your polish may be a cockerel, too.
If they are all around 12-14 weeks old, their peeps may be changing to the more adult clucking noises, sort of like when a teenage boy's voice changes. They will be hoarse for a little while, then will being making the more mature clucking noises of adult chickens.

 

[Duckie1153]

Noooooo say it ain’t so she was my very favorite !!!! And now that you mention it she does look like she’s becoming more and more cockerel-esque. Ah well, hopefully she (he) will be a nice roo. Not very smart or coordinated so far though heh. Thank you for your input you have put my mind at ease !

 

[emmyn74]

Also ur black one looks like an Australorp...not an orpington...orpingtons have white legs.

 

[ChickNanny13]

ESCandCCFS is right about the peeping changing to a cluck/crow ... The Black Orpington does look like a pullet however the other two cockerels.

BLACK ORPINGTON CHICKENS



OVERVIEW

Black Orpington Breed Standard : Black plummage with green sheen, black beak, black or dark eyes, bright red comb, face & wattles, white skin & dark legs.

Here at Essex Orpingtons we have a very large group of blacks consisting of one utility strain and two exhibition quality strains from two different bloodlines.

We also use the blacks to cross out to some of our other colours that are based on black to improve them.

 

[redranger209]

Their voice is changing, don’t worry.

 

[emmyn74]

ESCandCCFS is right about the peeping changing to a cluck/crow ... The Black Orpington does look like a pullet however the other two cockerels.

BLACK ORPINGTON CHICKENS



OVERVIEW

Black Orpington Breed Standard : Black plummage with green sheen, black beak, black or dark eyes, bright red comb, face & wattles, white skin & dark legs.

Here at Essex Orpingtons we have a very large group of blacks consisting of one utility strain and two exhibition quality strains from two different bloodlines.

We also use the blacks to cross out to some of our other colours that are based on black to improve them.

I stand corrected...for some reason I was thinking they had white legs... .

 

[kwhites634]

View attachment 1446360 View attachment 1446361 View attachment 1446362 View attachment 1446363 View attachment 1446364 View attachment 1446365 View attachment 1446366 View attachment 1446367 View attachment 1446368 View attachment 1446369 View attachment 1446370 View attachment 1446371 View attachment 1446372 View attachment 1446373 View attachment 1446374 View attachment 1446375 View attachment 1446376 Hi guys. I am a first time free range chicken owner. I purchased 1 black Orpington girl, a white (ish) polish girl ( I think) and 2 silkie/Polish mixes. They were 6-8 wks old when I got them which makes them currently about 12-14 weeks of age, the black Orpington (Matilda) being the oldest and biggest lol.

My concern is that over a week ago Matilda started having this very ugly hoarse clucking sound where it sounded like she was frustrated or anxious that she couldn’t get the sound out. She doesn’t have any other symptoms of a respiratory infection as far as I know but it did all start on a day where it was about 96 defreees and felt like 105 because of humidity. She was walking around with her mouth open all day poor thing couldn’t cool down no matter how many ice cubes I gave her. Her comb was also pale. I sprayed the ground they forage around with water several times with did dramatically cool the area. I also got some electrolytes and vita-drench from the tractor supply and that seemed to help her a bit. Could this have possibly lead to some damage from stress or something with her? I feel so bad for her. I love her. If she’s the most timid chicken I’ve ever met. She’s just terrified of me no matter how many treats I give her or how gentle I am. She’s the only one I can’t pick up, the white polish Daisy I can’t seem to get off my lap

Also, it seems to be affecting the others now as well. It’s been over a week and first the rooster went hoarse but I also saw him opening his mouth and stretching his neck out kind of like chicks do so maybe he was trying to crow? Or maybe it is a symptom? Idk. Oh the black one who had this first also does the mouth thing but I gave her some chick grit and I haven’t noticed it again since.

Also I live in Michigan and it’s extremely wet/cold/rainy then suddenly hot and sunny the next day, I have their coop sort of under some very tall but thinned out trees, perhaps they are just not getting enough sunlight? They can walk over to patches of sun or be completely in it whenever they want & they do this sometimes but not all day long. Am I doing something wrong here? I love them all to death they really are such unique personalities each and every one of them. And I have 2 Silkie chicks a few weeks old and I wouldn’t want to transfer anything to them though I am careful. (Pics included for attention) (if you’d like to help me sex them I am guessing I have 3 hens and 1 roo, the Polish/silkie mix with big wattles- but truly have no idea what I’m doing heh)

Oh and they have all been eating and drinking normally, which is often and happily

Thank you friends, any and all advice is appreciated

That's a new one on me. First time I've heard of a female with nothing to say

 

[Duckie1153]

Still look like a cockerel? I’m very much hoping she is not because she acts like a drunken monkey and would make a terrible roo

 

[redranger209]

View attachment 1451787 View attachment 1451792 View attachment 1451792 View attachment 1451793 View attachment 1451792 Still look like a cockerel? I’m very much hoping she is not because she acts like a drunken monkey and would make a terrible roo View attachment 1451787

Sorry, cockerel.