Chicken just sneezed this morning

[Beka123]

I just let my chickens out of their coop and one girl began to eat, then stopped and sneezed several times. I did not see any runny eyes and she didn't cough or wheeze, just did what I can only describe as a "chicken sneeze" about 10 times in a row. It was high-pitched and she shook her head from side to side when she did it, like a dog when they sneeze. A quick shearch on google brought up all sort of horrors and diseases, unfortunately this has to be the worst possible week for anyone to get sick bc I am working the full week, 9-5 and I have absolutely no time to sit and watch her behavior... Are there any safe medicines I can give the whole flock that won't hurt them if they're not also sick?

 

[ThePigeonKid]

http://www.drugs.com/vet/vetrx-poultry-remedy.html

Hope this helps.

 

[egglicious]

I have heard good things about vetrx (from the link above). But if she was eating and stopped to sneeze that many times I bet she inhaled something up her nose and just needed to sneeze it out. I wouldn't worry about it unless she keeps doing it. I recently had a problem with sick hens. One had a swollen eye and two others were sneezing. Of course I also looked up all sorts of horrors on the Internet. But now that we are mostly past it I am convinced that chickens can get little colds and such that are not a big deal. Some sources say they can't get colds and other sources say they can. I have seen in my flock a mild case of sniffles. No one died. I say, don't panic. What we find on google is usually worst case scenarios! I did also talk to my vet who reassured me that it was probably nothing to worry about.

 

[ThePigeonKid]

Yeah but vetrx is still good to have on hand.

 

[dawg53]

She probably inhaled feed dust, or maybe a small crumble. I wouldnt worry about it.

 

[Beka123]

Thank you all for your quick responses! That makes me feel much better to know she may have just inhaled someting, but I think a medicine might be handy just in case, like pigeon kid said. I guess I won't administer it unless I see some other ill signs or if she continues to sneeze. Thank you again everyone! (yeah, Internet searches seem to be bent on horrifying you don't they!)