Why Is Your Chicken Drooling? Hidden Dangers Every Poultry Keeper Must Know
Why Is Your Chicken Drooling? Hidden Dangers Every Poultry Keeper Must Know
If you spot saliva dripping from your chicken’s beak, don’t ignore it—this is never normal behavior. Drooling in poultry is a red flag pointing to deeper health problems that require urgent attention. Understanding the cause could mean the difference between life and death for your flock.
👉1. Crop Complications – Two common crop disorders can trigger mouth leakage:
• Impacted Crop: A blockage caused by grass, indigestible material, or excess feed.
• Sour Crop: A yeast infection that produces a foul odor and sour-smelling fluid.
In both cases, fluid builds up and starts to leak from the mouth.
👉2. Respiratory Diseases – Infections such as Infectious Bronchitis or Mycoplasma Gallisepticum can lead to mucus buildup in the throat. The chicken may struggle to breathe or swallow, often resulting in excess fluid discharge. Other signs include sneezing, wheezing, or open-mouth breathing.
👉3. Toxic Exposure – Chickens are vulnerable to poisoning from moldy feed, chemicals, or certain plants. These irritants damage the digestive system, triggering salivation and drooling as early warning signs.
👉4. Heat Stress – Overheating causes birds to pant continuously, leading to drool-like fluid loss. This is especially common in hot climates and overcrowded, poorly ventilated coops.
👉5. Neurological Disorders – Diseases like Marek’s Disease affect nerve coordination and the brain, making it hard for chickens to swallow. Drooling may be accompanied by tremors or leg paralysis.
✅Emergency Action Plan
• Isolate the sick bird immediately to prevent further spread.
• Feel the crop gently—if it’s bloated and smells sour, sour crop is likely.
• Observe breathing for any rattling, coughing, or sneezing.
• Offer clean water with electrolytes to rehydrate and stabilize the bird.
• Administer Amoxy-Col or Tylo-Dox if infection is suspected.
• Seek advice from a vet or poultry expert if no improvement is seen within 24 hours.
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