Two-Year-Old Hen Wheezing and making super high pitched noises! What should I do?

[Peace Love Hens]

Hi BYC,

My 2-year-old hen has been squawking all day. She was looking at new nesting spots for herself, scratching in the dirt and pecking other chickens. She was giving a variety of odd squawks today while she went around doing normal things. I picked her up, examined her body thoroughly for anything that may be causing her pain and there was nothing. My hens are free range, so there is a possibility that she may have swallowed some grass and that could be blocking her throat?

Later, I went down to the garden because I heard a squeaky toy sound coming from the hens. It was the same hen who was oddly squawking. Now, she's wheezing, and whenever she tries to make a sound, it is an octave or higher. I am really worried about her and I need some advice ASAP.

 

[azygous]

It sounds like she may have swallowed a foreign object, thin wire, a horse hair or cat hair, or maybe she has impacted crop.

Start by having someone hold her while you pry open her beak and look inside her throat with a flashlight. Pay attention to the tongue. Hairs can get wrapped around it.

Feel the crop. Is it exceptionally full and hard? Check it again first thing in the morning. If it's still in the same condition, you will need to treat for impacted crop.

By the way, a sick or injured chicken or one who is in pain, is quiet and still. Chickens have a predator defense mechanism where they hide their discomfort instead of complaining loudly. This is true of most animals. It seems only humans need to let everyone know they are miserable.

 

[Peace Love Hens]

It sounds like she may have swallowed a foreign object, thin wire, a horse hair or cat hair, or maybe she has impacted crop.

Start by having someone hold her while you pry open her beak and look inside her throat with a flashlight. Pay attention to the tongue. Hairs can get wrapped around it.

Feel the crop. Is it exceptionally full and hard? Check it again first thing in the morning. If it's still in the same condition, you will need to treat for impacted crop.

By the way, a sick or injured chicken or one who is in pain, is quiet and still. Chickens have a predator defense mechanism where they hide their discomfort instead of complaining loudly. This is true of most animals. It seems only humans need to let everyone know they are miserable.

Thank you! Today, her voice is back to normal, thank goodness, so I am feeling better. She did not seem to have anything unusual in her crop, so that was good. Do you think that she just had a sore throat from all of that squawking? Thank you, I will keep in mind the predator defense mechanism in the future.