Three Chicken Health Questions

[KWestVA]

Good afternoon! I have three chicken health questions.

1. My dog lost one of her Dr
Buzby's Toe Grips (¼" rubber ring: https://a.co/d/a36fyaf), and before I could pick it up, my hen grabbed it and swallowed it. She seems OK, but should I contact an emergency vet? Or wait and see if she passes it??

2. My chickens are occasionally making a high-pitched squeaky noise like a little sneeze - but not all the time, and otherwise seem normal in their eating, activities, etc. Should I get them checked out for a respiratory infection, or is the occasional sneeze OK (if that's what it is)?

3. Speaking of chicken vets, do they come to your home, or do you have to take your chickens to their facility? I can see bringing one sick chicken to them, but if I want everyone to get a wellness check, I don't envision throwing 3 chickens in the back of my VW Golf ending well.

 

[FrostRanger]

1. She should be fine, not great she ate it but she should pass it OK

2. If it's just an occasional sneeze, I wouldn't worry, chickens sneeze occasionally for various reasons, as long as it isn't constant I wouldn't worry

3. Depends on the vet, some will and some won't. Most of us don't have a vet that will even see chickens (very few vets see chickens and there are various reasons for this) so we basically have be our own amateur vet. If you are fortunate enough to have a vet that sees chickens, you can ask if home visits are an option, if not, you could crate them since it's only 3 or bring them in one at a time

 

[KWestVA]

1. She should be fine, not great she ate it but she should pass it OK

2. If it's just an occasional sneeze, I wouldn't worry, chickens sneeze occasionally for various reasons, as long as it isn't constant I wouldn't worry

3. Depends on the vet, some will and some won't. Most of us don't have a vet that will even see chickens (very few vets see chickens and there are various reasons for this) so we basically have be our own amateur vet. If you are fortunate enough to have a vet that sees chickens, you can ask if home visits are an option, if not, you could crate them since it's only 3 or bring them in one at a time

Thank you so much! I'm a complete novice: are there special crates for chickens (maybe something with dividers if they need to be separated), or just any typical cat/dog/animal carrier?

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you so much! I'm a complete novice: are there special crates for chickens (maybe something with dividers if they need to be separated), or just any typical cat/dog/animal carrier?

Not that I'm aware of, just a standard dog or cat crate will work