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Hey chicken farmers, I have a question for you. One of our nine week old birds started doing this this afternoon. Have you had a chicken do this? What do think is wrong with her? Sounds like she’s wheezing…
We think it might be something stuck in her throat, gape worm, or heat stroke. Thoughts?
Replies (7)
Could be an impacted crop, a bit of food stuck in there.. no real way of telling.
she seems sharp and alert and thats a key indicator of how serious things are.
Having said that, I would expect her to die and be pleasantly surprised when she doesn't. Welcome to the chicken life!
I've never heard that whistling sound, but she doesn't look distressed.
Can you post on here with an update in the next few days?
Will do.
We are thinking (and hoping) it’s dehydration. I guess they can breathe like this when that happens. She wiggled her way out of the run we have for the younger chicks and was separated from her water for a few hours, so it’s possible.
She past away last night. We talked to someone who has worked with chickens for a decade or so and he thought it was either dehydration or she injured her esophagus somehow. It must’ve been the latter because we were able to get her a fair amount of water throughout the day but it never got better.
oh no!! thanks for the update but I'm sorry to hear it ☹️
Do you feed pellets or mash? Pellets can get stuck more easily and generally cause more problems then they are worth.
Would also recommend giving them access to soil/grit (small stones). Grit is important for the functioning of their crop.
