Chicken wheezing/sneezing, but otherwise acting normal?

[mistermorel]

Hi everyone! I have 2 chickens currently (adding more to the flock soon) and one is displaying some slightly concerning symptoms. She is a "mutt" chicken, bright-eyed and active with no foam around the mouth or anything like that. Crop feels full and she is still chasing after bugs like a tiny dinosaur, lol. She's about 3 years old. My other hen is not exhibiting any symptoms and seems totally healthy.

I noticed a few days ago when I picked her up that she was wheezing. The noise was only noticeable while I was holding her -- sort of a gargling/hissing noise -- so I assumed that it was just a distress sound (she is not super friendly). The noise was noticeable mostly when she was already vocalizing. However, I've now started to notice these wet/throaty breathing noises even when she is just foraging or exploring the run. She is acting 100% normal in every other way. Her breath stinks more than usual -- not sure if that's an indicator for anything?

Poop looks normal. Haven't administered any treatment yet. The coop isn't particularly dusty, the run is clean, and the chickens are being provided with the local mill's layer feed + scratch + occasional treats like mealworms and veggies.

 

[Eggcessive]

Is she sneezing as well? That and wheezing could be from a respiratory disease. I would feel of her crop in the early morning before she has anything to eat or drink to check on how her crop is working. It is located in the right chest, and it is flat in the morning, becoming full with food and water during the day. If it is not emptying overnight, something may be worn. She may have an impacted or sour crop. That can cause a bad odor from the beak, and they aren’t digesting their food. They also may have a rattly sound in the throat. Here is a good article about crop problems:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

https://the-chicken-chick.com/chicken-anatomy-crop-impacted-crop-sour/

 

[mistermorel]

Hey, thanks for the info! I woke up before dawn today while the hens were still roosting, and her crop was indeed still full (the other hen's was not). It didn't feel particularly fibrous or lumpy: I could feel small, granular pieces of what I imagine is food/scratch/grit, but I'm guessing that's pretty normal as far as crop contents go.

Does this imply sour croup over impacted crop? Should I just treat for sour crop or would you go ahead and treat for both, given that treating for impacted crop is just coconut oil/massage?

 

[Eggcessive]

Impacted crop is when the crop is full and firm or doughy in early morning before eating. Sour crop has a bad or sour odor from the beak, and a puffy/squishy crop that is not emptying.