Wheezing chick

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like the chick is having stridor, just high pitched because she is tiny. Stridor is when something partially blocks the airway. It could be a small piece of feed, mucus or swelling of the tissues from a respiratory infection. When it comes from a piece of feed in the airway, it usually goes away in a few hours or overnight. It can be accompanied by sneezing or head shaking if it is a respiratory infection or disease. I would probably try to get some Tylosin powder online and treat the water 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. This store and jedds.com usually have it in stock:
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com/product/tylosin-powder-for-birds/

 

[Appalachickens]

It sounds like the chick is having stridor, just high pitched because she is tiny. Stridor is when something partially blocks the airway. It could be a small piece of feed, mucus or swelling of the tissues from a respiratory infection. When it comes from a piece of feed in the airway, it usually goes away in a few hours or overnight. It can be accompanied by sneezing or head shaking if it is a respiratory infection or disease. I would probably try to get some Tylosin powder online and treat the water 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. This store and jedds.com usually have it in stock:
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com/product/tylosin-powder-for-birds/

Thank you, I will look into that. So far, no head shaking or sneezing. I got another short video where you can see she is behaving normally except for the whistle. She is the one in the back.

25604332-777F-4F74-9781-056FC62DB100.mov

• Appalachickens
• Jul 1, 2025

Consuelo's whistling

 

[Eggcessive]

I can’t see the newer video.

 

[Appalachickens]

I can’t see the newer video.

I can see it on my thread, so I'm not sure how to fix that. I've never done videos on here before.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It sounds like the chick is having stridor, just high pitched because she is tiny. Stridor is when something partially blocks the airway. It could be a small piece of feed, mucus or swelling of the tissues from a respiratory infection. When it comes from a piece of feed in the airway, it usually goes away in a few hours or overnight. It can be accompanied by sneezing or head shaking if it is a respiratory infection or disease. I would probably try to get some Tylosin powder online and treat the water 1 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. This store and jedds.com usually have it in stock:
https://thecanaryfinchstore.com/product/tylosin-powder-for-birds/

I agree, it does sound like Stridor. If it doesn't clear up soon, then I'd follow the suggestions above.

In the last video at around 18sec or so, she does do a head shake with a sneeze(?).

What does her crop feel like?

Thank you, I will look into that. So far, no head shaking or sneezing. I got another short video where you can see she is behaving normally except for the whistle. She is the one in the back.

25604332-777F-4F74-9781-056FC62DB100.mov

• Appalachickens
• Jul 1, 2025

Consuelo's whistling

 

[Appalachickens]

I agree, it does sound like Stridor. If it doesn't clear up soon, then I'd follow the suggestions above.

In the last video at around 18sec or so, she does do a head shake with a sneeze(?).

What does her crop feel like?

Possibly a sneeze? I don’t know - I’ve never seen a chicken sneeze. What would it mean if it was?

Also, how do I check her crop and what would I be looking for?

 

[Eggcessive]

Video of chickens sneezing while at the feeder:

 

[Eggcessive]

Here is a video of how to feel a crop to see if it is empty and flat or full of food, firm or puffy:

 

[Appalachickens]

Here is a video of how to feel a crop to see if it is empty and flat or full of food, firm or puffy:

Very helpful, thank you. I'll check that when I'm out there in a few hours.

 

[Eggcessive]

I would just keep checking the crop. It may have slowed. Make sure that she has poultry grit available in a separate pan from feed, and she will take what she needs. Until her crop feels empty in morning, I would limit her food to moistened chicken feed and some cooked egg, but not whole grains, seeds, or food hard to digest. Here is another link about crops:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour/