4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[eggsplorer]

Hi

 

I went out this morning to let our 3 girls out and they all hared over to the Grub and started eating like I'd never fed them. (They always have access to the Grub and put themselves in the Eglu, so I'm assuming that they are getting enough food before they go to sleep.) Our Lohmann Ranger then stopped feeding and seemed to be gasping for air. She then made a quiet noise like a squeaky toy and continued to gape and look surprised, but not as if she was panicking. I offered her water and was just thinking of what to do next, when she made an incredibly loud noise - as if someone had just stamped on the squeaky toy. I don't know who was more surprised, her or me, but she then went over to the Glug, thought better of it and went straight back to the Grub and continued eating as if she'd never been fed.

 

Should I be worried by this? Has this happened to anyone else's hens? She's been fine for the rest of the day, but I was so when it happened this morning.

 

Thanks from and me.

[Gamebird]

Hens do make the most peculiar noises sometimes for no apparent reason - or so it seems to us.

 

I expect she is just fine and if she is still eating and drinking then I wouldn't worry.

 

Maybe she just thought of something funny and was having a laugh to herself.

[Dinkychick]

i once used a recomended cleaner on the inside of the eglu and even with thourough rinsing this gave my 3 chucks a cough for the day which sounded simular. Thankfully it did only last a day and no i will not be using the stuff again.

 

But it did sound like a squeaky toy

[Guest]

she might have got a bit of food stuck and coughed it up?

[blackgold]

sounds like something went down the wrong way bit like us. I would keep an eye on her just in case. love sue xxx

[quickcluck]

If she seems happy I shouldn't worry... But it is normal for them to scoff like there's been a famine in the mornings

 

I think that they digest all the food stored in their crop over night so they need to start re filling asap

[eggsplorer]

Thanks for all of the replies. She's fine again today, so hopefully it was just a one off. It's nice to know that there are so many helpful people here.

[LJ's Chooks]

One of our chooks regularly pips at me just as i'm on the way out of their run.... whenever i turn around to see who it was they all stick their necks in the air an laugh... Just their little game!!!

 

How ridiculous

[helenmb]

One of mine regularly Hoots a bit like a toy horn which I think is her sneezing. She seems otherwise healthy just hooty!

[blackgold]

My friend and i bought 4 Faverolles from the same place on the same day. I only have one of them here and the other 3 live with her. Last weekend when she was visiting Bam Bam was talking and my friends says hers sound nothing like mine..... Bam Bma loves the sound of her own voice and chats about anything...... love Sue

[chelsea]

yep, this is a regular chook noise - often encountered by a hen if she scoffs her face in too much of a hurry I am not sure if its a sneeze (ie- they've inhaled a pellet) or something has gone down the wrong way. Dont worry, mine do it all the time