I have an Australorp hen who is about nine years old. Last week I heard all this sneezing/coughing coming from my coop, so I went to see what was wrong. A couple of hens were just standing by the water dish, they all seemed fine. Later on when I went to put them up for the night, she was standing at the edge of the fence, with strange breathing noises. She's usually one of the first in the coop and she's also one of my more skittish girls. I went over to check out what was wrong. I went and picked her right up with out any struggle. Everything seemed okay, her crop was empty though. I took a flashlight and checked down her throats to see if she was choking. It all looked fine. I took her inside just in case she had something contagious and so I could keep a better eye on her. I put some feed down for her, and she ate a little bit so I got her some corn, tomatoes, and zucchini and she absolutely loved it and ate every last piece. Her breathing was still really loud though. The next morning she started to eat more than treats. However, she wouldn't touch the water at all. I tried putting her beak in it, that usually works but it didn't. I put some on a spoon and put it up to her mouth. I tried a bunch of different things to get her to drink that I've seen has worked for people. After two days of nothing working, I decided I just have to force it in her. I got a syringe with water and held open her mouth and slowly squirted it down. I don't send it all the way, I just put it in her beak and she tilts her head up like she's drinking normally. The most I can get down her a day is 4 teaspoons, two in the morning and two and night. She's walking and acting perfectly normal. About a minute after a get the water in her, she walks around and poops it right out. Barely any brown in it, just plain water coming out of her. Later in the afternoon when I don't give her water, her poop is perfectly fine, it's just after she drinks. It's been almost a week now, her breathing is slightly better and I'm not sure what to do with her. She won't drink on her own whatsoever and I know she needs more water than what I'm able to give her a day I try to give her more, but I'm afraid I might hurt her because I have to force her mouth open. I have absolutely no clue what's wrong with her, she looks and acts completely healthy, the only thing is she won't drink and her breathing sounds horrible. Does anyone have any advice on getting her to drink or what might be wrong? Also, how much does she need to drink a day? I'm trying to get more down her, but she just poops it right out anyway.