I can hear my chickens heartbeat from a couple feet away

[Theck1722]

I went to let the girls out this morning and I noticed one was missing so I went in the coop and saw one of my red star girls crouched down and kinda waddling. I first thought “oh no she’s egg bound”. It was quiet in there since everyone else went out and she was on the floor of the coop. I could hear faint but rapid thuds and I thought surely I was crazy and it wasn’t her heartbeat but I picked her up and it was POUNDING. I stayed out there for awhile and took her to food and water and she ate and drank. It’s been extremely cold here for about 4 days. We are in Texas so -2 windchill isn’t something they are used to. I’ll keep an eye on her but she seems okay now. Any ideas what could be going on??

 

[FowlProtector]

I think maybe the cold has been a little too much for her. Extreme cold can be stressful on chickens and might have raised her heart rate. They are use to warmer weather in Texas so a drop can affect them.
It is also possible that she was in the process of laying an egg which can be a bit uncomfortable and increase the heart rate. She did eat and drink so it looks like she is getting better. Do you have any heat in the coop to help them keep warm during these cold days?

 

[FrostRanger]

Perhaps something spooked her badly?

 

[Theck1722]

Perhaps something spooked her badly?

I thought about that too but nobody else seemed bothered and I hadn’t heard any commotion.

 

[Theck1722]

I think maybe the cold has been a little too much for her. Extreme cold can be stressful on chickens and might have raised her heart rate. They are use to warmer weather in Texas so a drop can affect them.
It is also possible that she was in the process of laying an egg which can be a bit uncomfortable and increase the heart rate. She did eat and drink so it looks like she is getting better. Do you have any heat in the coop to help them keep warm during these cold days?

Thank you for your response. I couldn’t believe I could hear this girls heart pounding like that from feet away.
I have one of those radiant coop/brooder plates on their wall and I close up all doors at night. Not sure the plate makes much difference but I was hopeful it helped knock the edge off some. She seems a bit slower than the other girls but still behaving pretty normal and comb color is bright and red. I’m hopeful the sun will come up and warm her!

 

[FrostRanger]

Thank you for your response. I couldn’t believe I could hear this girls heart pounding like that from feet away.
I have one of those radiant coop/brooder plates on their wall and I close up all doors at night. Not sure the plate makes much difference but I was hopeful it helped knock the edge off some. She seems a bit slower than the other girls but still behaving pretty normal and comb color is bright and red. I’m hopeful the sun will come up and warm her!

I don't think it's the cold. While hypothermia can cause a fast heart beat, she would appear pale among other things, I think there's something else going on
Here's the symptoms of hypothermia
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/hypothermia-in-chickens

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I went to let the girls out this morning and I noticed one was missing so I went in the coop and saw one of my red star girls crouched down and kinda waddling. I first thought “oh no she’s egg bound”. It was quiet in there since everyone else went out and she was on the floor of the coop. I could hear faint but rapid thuds and I thought surely I was crazy and it wasn’t her heartbeat but I picked her up and it was POUNDING. I stayed out there for awhile and took her to food and water and she ate and drank. It’s been extremely cold here for about 4 days. We are in Texas so -2 windchill isn’t something they are used to. I’ll keep an eye on her but she seems okay now. Any ideas what could be going on??

Has she laid an egg?

I'd work on hydration and if she's not laid an egg and should have, get some Calcium into her ASAP.

Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily for 5 days. Pull down on her wattles, pop the tablet into the beak and let her swallow.


Example: