Sneezing Chickens

We are new to chickens - picked up 7 about 3 months ago - 4 hens, 2 pullets and 1 roo. I noticed one of our hens was sneezing a little about 2 months, but seemed fine. Then our rooster about 2 weeks later suddenly became sick! Despite the fact that we gave him injectable tylan, he died 3 days later. Very sad. All seemed fine for about a week or two and suddenly our hens started to sneeze and one became quite ill like our roo. I had already purchased soluble and put it in their water immediately. All healed and all seems ok!

However, I am so anxious that they will become ill again. (I am being a nut and keep listening for sneezes.) I am hoping we killed off whatever virus they had, but I just don't know how this works with chickens.

Question - is there anything we should do to improve/maintain the health of our little crew? On top of that, long story, we took in a peachick who is sitting on my shoulder as I type. S/he is about 2 weeks now --- and I hope that whatever illness the crew had doesn't spread to the peachick when it's time to introduce her to the group. Any advice for keeping everyone healthy? I'm like a first-time mom! Thanks!

There are a handful of common poultry diseases such as infectious bronchitis (IB,) mycoplasma (MG,) coryza, ILT, aspergillosis, and others. Some are viruses, while others are caused by bacteria or fungus. Antibiotics only affect bacterial diseases. Many of these diseases can be complicated by secondary bacterial diseases or air sacculitis (in fection of the air sacs.) If you have another outbreak, get the bird tested before giving medication to identify what it is. If you lose one, the state vet can do a necropsy to find a cause. With respiratory diseases, many make the whole flock carriers for life, while IB makes them carriers up to a year. If sneezing was the only symptom, it could have been IB. Make sure that you have good coop ventilation, don't keep it too warm or use a fan in summer, avoid wet spots and mold, and keep down dust. Here is a good list of diseases where you can read about the symptoms:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

Thank you so much, Eggsessive, for the information and for helping to narrow down possible illnesses. I read over the poultry diseases page and it does sound like they probably had bronchitis. All the symptoms match down to the watery egg whites (which I found alarming). Good to put a name on it and be able to address it. Had bought a book on chicken health, but was a little daunted by the number of issues that it could be. Interesting - think ventilation could be the issue. Will address asap.

And I had no idea that the state will do necropsy! When our rooster fell ill, I called literally every vet in our area and I couldn't find anyone who treated chickens - thought we were on our own!

well in money hungry Ky you have to go thru a vet for even a necropsy... Pitiful prob cause they all want their cut.....
thank you

romita said:

Thank you so much, Eggsessive, for the information and for helping to narrow down possible illnesses.  I read over the poultry diseases page and it does sound like they probably had bronchitis. All the symptoms match down to the watery egg whites (which I found alarming).  Good to put a name on it and be able to address it.  Had bought a book on chicken health, but was a little daunted by the number of issues that it could be.  Interesting -  think ventilation could be the issue.  Will address asap.    

And I had no idea that the state will do necropsy! When our rooster fell ill, I called literally every vet in our area and I couldn't find anyone who treated chickens - thought we were on our own! 

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A few states will do necropsies for free, such as California, but some charge a nominal fee, while others are high enough for many to avoid it. Necropsies can really help though, if possible. Here in Ohio, I believe it is $80.