unusual chesty sounds coming from chickens?

[chickenmuckcharlie]

hello,

thanks for taking a look at this, I've got 6 chickens 3 about a year or so old, then 3 a bit younger, (i think anyway, as they were unwanted so i took em) anyway one of the younger ones started making funny chesty noises as if they had phlem on it, now one of the older chickens is doing the same when they cluck, they eat a very varied diet which is usually vegan for the best part but on occasions they have none vegan stuff when my friends give them left overs, they have pellets as the consistent food stuff and recently i have been adding poultry tonic to their water after hearing the questionable noises coming from their chest, Rowena and Delila are their names, anyone had this before? their appetites are fine and are still laying, Delila had diarrhea, with a foamy appearance the other day but i assumed that might have been the lamb cat food they were given that day, it was from a sealed in date pack but looked very rich.....i'm hoping the chest sounds clear themselves up as i dont have any insurance or money for a vet, anyone come across this before?

 

[chrismahon]

Hi Chickenmuckcharlie. Foamy poos on occasion are normal but can be more frequent when they need worming (use Flubenvet only). I have never heard of anyone feeding cat food to chickens, except in an emergency as a protein boost. It is illegal to feed meat products or kitchen waste to laying chickens (or chickens for meat) because of the health risks.

The chesty noises are a respiratory infection. Whether antibiotics are necessary or not depends if it worsens. First make sure they have plenty of ventilation in the coop and that the bedding or walls are not damp, as that can cause the release of mould spores which are really bad for them.

 

[Marigold]

Hi Charlie, and welcome to the Forum.
If you rehomed the younger birds from someone who didn't want them any more, it's quite possible that they came with health issues through not being observed and cared for properly throughout this exceptionally difficult spell of wet and windy weather we've been having this winter, I don't know the circumstances, but it does take some dedication to keep on going down to the chicken run whatever the weather in winter, and the early signs of illness can easily be missed in chickens anyway, as they try to hide it from the others in case they get picked on. Which is why it's always a good idea to separate and quarantine new birds to your flock for at least two weeks, to see if there are any possible problems they might transmit to your other birds. Chris is spot on with his advice , respiratory infections are very common in chickens and infectious to other chickens, and unfortunately they are not usually like a human cold, which is a virus which passes with time and then confers immunity to that particular virus. Chicken respiratory infections can recur within the flock after the original outbreak has died down, especially at times of stress. When you introduce new birds, it always stresses them when they have to get used to a new territory and face up to the hostility of the previous flock, who never welcome newbies.
It would be a good idea to worm your whole flock with Flubenvet at this point, as if they have worms it does pull them down and then they find it harder to resist any other attacks on their immune systems. I also totally agree with Chris about not feeding cat food - not only is it illegal, as he says, but will cause tummy upsets. Best to stick to layers pellets and green food, with maybe some fruit peelings and any wild greenstuff or Spring grass they may be able to find. Do not feed any cooked human leftovers, vegan or not, as this is also illegal and may contain levels of fat, sugar and salt which are harmful to chickens. If they fill up on what to them is junk food, yes they will enjoy it, but it will tend to unbalance their diets so they don't eat enough pellets which contain what the actually need to remain healthy and lay eggs,
You will now need to observe your girls carefully, and watch out for any worsening signs of infection such as bubbly eyes or nostrils, as well as chest noises. I hope they will get over it naturally and it won't spread to the others, as it's too late to separate them now they've been in contact with each other for a while. Respiratory illness can be treated with antibiotics but if you don't want to go down this route you will just have to support their immune systems with the good conditions you are giving them, and hope all will be well.
If you look on the main Poultrykeeper site (see link at the bottom of the page) there are some helpful links you might find interesting, on worming hens with Flubenvet and on respiratory illness. Good luck, and I hope all will be well.


http://poultrykeeper.com/general-chickens/worming-chickens
http://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/mycoplasma
http://poultrykeeper.com/respiratory-problems/infectious-bronchitis

 

[chickenmuckcharlie]

hello, thanks for the replies, sorry for the delay in my response, I really appreciate the guidance.

Luckily it's started to clear up, which may have been due to them naturally getting over it with a little helping hand from the poultry tonic that goes in their water a couple of times a week, you can still hear a slight issue but it is getting better and it hasn't spread to the other chickens thankfully.

I keep an eye on their 'movements' as i tend to do mini clean outs 3 to 4 times a week then full clean outs every 7 to 10 days on the indoor areas of the coop, the out door floor area 'debri' is replaced as and when is needed, the links have been very helpful in letting me know what to look out for in their excrement and physical symptoms, cheers.

I completely agree with the cat food thing, it was given to us by someone who said they were advised by their vet, but seeing as apart from their eggs that i eat my diets completely vegan so my friend and i who i live with has agreed not to feed them meat whatsoever, though i wasn't aware of that law. the vast majority of what gets given to them in scraps is the excess/off cuts from veg e.g stuff grown in the garden or bought from the market, i don't see how that will harm them (unless you can inform me otherwise).

The new younger ones have settled in nicely, the older ones did give them a hard time at first but due to the coop having different areas there is enough space and enough different feeders for them to avoid too much abuse,though olivia is very submissive and just crouches down when they give her a hard time,the other younger ones hop it!

Thanks again for the advice, I ever so enjoy the hens and want to do whatever i can to avoid them getting ill

 

[Marigold]

Hi, I'm very glad they're settling in and now are doing well. They're lucky to have found such a caring new home. I expect a bit of sunlight and warmer dry weather will do them no end of good.
Mine are feasting in the lovely tender shoots of goose grass that I gather for them when out on a walk -lovely dark green stuff, good for egg yolk colour and free!