Weird looking throat

[Abriana]

I was looking at my year and three month old Ameraucana hen because she hadn't been eating (empty crop for last few days) and i noticed that her throat was looking funny. The hole that her food goes down is really small and far up. then is kind of went to one side and seemed to close up like one side wasn't attached. It seemed to open and close as she breathed is this her windpipe (sorry not too familier with chicken anatonomy)? I fed her some bread and then opened her mouth again to see and it seemed to be behind this hole. I gave her water and massaged her throat and it was gone when i looked again. I'm really concerned as none of my other chickens have it except one. Grace is a Columbian Rock Ameraucana who will be one year in October, she is the daughter of the one with the issue. Hers is not flipping to one side and the hole is not as small. Is my hen in danger? Is this the cause of her not eating? What can i do about it? i am getting the vet out here as soon as i can, but if it isn't a life or death issue and it is either not a problem or i can fix it myself, i don't want to pay for a vet to look at my hen. Is this why she isn't eating? I am so worried. Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Eggcessive]

The whole in the middle of the mouth is the trachea or airway. It should open with each breath and close between breaths. The food tube or esophagus is in the back of the throat, kind of to the right of the chicken (your left when looking into the throat.) Instead of bread, I would wet some chicken feed with water to make a gruel, and see if she will eat it. Most chickens will eat cooked or raw egg.

 

[Eggcessive]

The large opening is the airway (trachea) which is only a slit when closed
© 2008, Hopkins' Alternative Livestock

Note in this picture the syringe of medicine is placed far back to the chicken's right where the food tube (esophagus) is located
© 2008, Hopkins' Alternative Livestock

 

[Abriana]

The whole in the middle of the mouth is the trachea or airway. It should open with each breath and close between breaths. The food tube or esophagus is in the back of the throat, kind of to the right of the chicken (your left when looking into the throat.) Instead of bread, I would wet some chicken feed with water to make a gruel, and see if she will eat it. Most chickens will eat cooked or raw egg.

Thank you. But why is it so far up and visible when I cannot see it in my other chickens? Do you think this is why she isn't eating?