Baby Black Australorp Sneeze

[LittleNikki]

I recently got two baby (1 week old) black australorp chicks from a feed store. They were the last two of all they had. They both sneezed when we got them in the car and it continued. We've now had them for about a week and the sneezing on one has basically stopped but the other has now turned into what sounds like a wet deep sneeze. (There was a thread previously on here with a video of another baby black australorp with the same sneeze) [ here is the link

. It happens no matter where the little chick is. Even when it's not eating. So far it's been a normal happy little chick. Eating and drinking just fine. Bouncing and pecking at everything. Poop is normal. Only thing is that sneeze.

We've been having horrible pollen days in Southeast Texas. I was wondering if maybe this little chick just hes some allergy issues n because my cat has been sneezing quite a bit as well. Same as my spouse.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sneezing in young chicks can be environmental from dust in feed or in the coop/brooder, from ammonia odor from droppings, mold from wet bedding, other allergens, and sometimes from respiratory diseases if they have been exposed. When you picked up your chicks at the feed store, did they have them behind gates where the public could not handle them? Most protect their chicks from handling by people, but I have seen a few where people just go and pick up chicks and could possibly expose them to viruses or bacterial disease from their own flocks. Hopefully, your chicks are not sick but just doing the normal occasional sneeze from dusty feed.

Here are a few articles and a BYC thread to read about sneezing:
https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/respiratory-diseases-in-chickens

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-are-my-chickens-sneezing.727605/

 

[LittleNikki]

Welcome to BYC. Sneezing in young chicks can be environmental from dust in feed or in the coop/brooder, from ammonia odor from droppings, mold from wet bedding, other allergens, and sometimes from respiratory diseases if they have been exposed. When you picked up your chicks at the feed store, did they have them behind gates where the public could not handle them? Most protect their chicks from handling by people, but I have seen a few where people just go and pick up chicks and could possibly expose them to viruses or bacterial disease from their own flocks. Hopefully, your chicks are not sick but just doing the normal occasional sneeze from dusty feed.

Here are a few articles and a BYC thread to read about sneezing:
https://www.backyardchickencoops.com.au/blogs/learning-centre/respiratory-diseases-in-chickens

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/why-are-my-chickens-sneezing.727605/

They were in one of those tall pull out cages. Where they are stacked on top of one another. They came from the middle rack. Customers I dont think really handle the chicks without an employee. There were all different kinds of species and ages in surrounding cages and on the tracks above and below where they were. These happened to be last of the baby chicks they had completely.

I'm wondering if it's the ammonia because they currently in a plastic container with ventilation holes. (There are small ones all over and big ones with wire over it so no one gets out and no paws get in). They poop so much and it gets cleaned daily. Maybe I need to remove the lid and replace with a wire cover?

 

[Eggcessive]

The better ventilation they have the better they will breathe. Top should be open, but the sides and bottom should be covered to prevent drafts.

 

[LittleNikki]

Thanks!