[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi,

 has anyone had experienced their hens getting a grain of corn or similar stuck in her throat. Mine do it occasionally but a good cough usually shifts it.

Unfortunatly one of mine has had something stuck for a few days. She can eat, drink lay eggs and seems fit and well other than coughing ocasionally and having to breath with her mouth open if she runs about etc.

She does not appear to be in any pain or distress but as yet hasnt managed to shift it. Has anyone had this problem and what was the out come?

Buffy

[doganjo]

Are you sure that is what it is?  There are illnesses that have the same symptoms of coughing and gaping.  I've never heard of them getting things stuck in their throat I must admit. Grass spikes if too long can create impacted or sour crop, but don't think they cause those symptoms.  Sorry can't help - not had any couching or gaping except in a bird that was obviously ill, and demised pretty quickly.  Not coccidiosis though, wrong symptoms.

[in the hills]

One of my hens had a strange cough a while ago. It was a really weird, hoarse sound and she did sort of gag when she did it. It lasted a couple of days and she was fine in herself. It went without any intervention. Not sure what it was and no other birds affected.

[Fleecewife]

I have just heard of a cockerel which had a 6" feather stuck down his throat.  Had to be pulled out with tweezers but apparently he was fine afterwards.  So have a good look down her throat, perhaps with a head torch for a good view.

[CameronS]

It could just be a cold -  a few of mine are showing similar symptoms and seem to rattle when they breath - poultry spice mixed through their feed seems to cure it pretty quickly!! -

 i wouldn't worry too much it doesn't seem to be serious

[chrismahon]

When were they last wormed with Flubenvet Buffy? I ask because it could be gapeworm, but more likely as previously said something stuck in the throat.

[Mammyshaz]

A coughing or choking soundsound almost like a loud crowing at times can be caused by gape worm. Especially if they free range or if pheasants can forage in the same area as these are carriers and some worms carry one of the gapeworm stages. If they are fit and healthy in every other way I would guess this is more likely the cause than objects getting stuck in the throat.
It is easily treated with flubenvet.

[Mammyshaz]

Sorry chrismahon, replied at the same time as you. The replies crossed.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks guys they are wormed regularly but dont use fluben vet as the last time I used it one of my birds died and I have had other keepers share the same experience.

Mine have a tendancy to bolt down large items of food such as cheese, dog biscuits...mice. Ocasionally they get something on the large side and it gets stuck. they do a little huff and make a sort of sneezey noise and its usually enough to remove the offending article.

She is not gaping or suffering in any way. I have given her a syringe of olive oil and massaged her crop as I thought the offending article was in her gullet but I think it is in her wind pipe. If its a piece of corn thats gone the wrong way then theres not much I can do to help her with it.

Buffy

[chrismahon]

Danger of worming with Flubenvet is that the hens can be killed by the toxins given off by the worms as they die, if the worm burden in them is high. So I gues you need to start with it early and use regularly. Might work if you used a herbal like vermex to reduce the worm numbers they followed it up few weeks later with Flubenvet. Trouble is Flubenvet seems to be the only one that kills Gapeworm.

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks Chris,

                   thats interesting. I use vermex but with free range birds if they can drink puddles instead they will. As a result I will need to wait for dryer weather to worm them or lock them in for a week.


Buffy