Chickens Get Sick Every Winter?

[LittleBoPeep1]

Every winter, a few members of my flock seems to get "gurgled clucking" and the whole flock seems to sneeze occasionally. They also seems to get a little smelly around their faces. Otherwise, they seem perfectly healthy and normal. What should I be doing to help them?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Every winter, a few members of my flock seems to get "gurgled clucking" and the whole flock seems to sneeze occasionally. They also seems to get a little smelly around their faces. Otherwise, they seem perfectly healthy and normal. What should I be doing to help them?

Are you changing anything this time of year like blocking up ventilation/closing windows? How are the ammonia levels inside your coop?

Have you ever treated them before? You mention this occurs every year, so what have you done in previous years? If they seem to be able to overcome the symptoms on their own, to me that would be what I would see if they are able to do this year as well.

Just a guess, but likely you have a respiratory disease in your flock. Birds remain carriers for life and can become symptomatic periodically. Changes in weather, stress, etc. can sometimes cause symptoms. There are several common diseases, without testing it's hard to know which one you are dealing with.
The smelly around the faces is a bit concerning though - do you notice mucous from the nostrils or patches inside the beaks? Watery/foamy eyes, facial swelling, etc.?

Some treat symptoms of disease like Mycoplasma with an antibiotic like Tylosin, you may be able to find it online. If you are dealing with a virus, then the antibiotic may help with secondary infection.

 

[LittleBoPeep1]

Are you changing anything this time of year like blocking up ventilation/closing windows? How are the ammonia levels inside your coop?

Have you ever treated them before? You mention this occurs every year, so what have you done in previous years? If they seem to be able to overcome the symptoms on their own, to me that would be what I would see if they are able to do this year as well.

Just a guess, but likely you have a respiratory disease in your flock. Birds remain carriers for life and can become symptomatic periodically. Changes in weather, stress, etc. can sometimes cause symptoms. There are several common diseases, without testing it's hard to know which one you are dealing with.
The smelly around the faces is a bit concerning though - do you notice mucous from the nostrils or patches inside the beaks? Watery/foamy eyes, facial swelling, etc.?

Some treat symptoms of disease like Mycoplasma with an antibiotic like Tylosin, you may be able to find it online. If you are dealing with a virus, then the antibiotic may help with secondary infection.

Thank you so much Wyorp Rock for your response! I have tried treating the flock in the past with Oxytetracycline as well as some members of the flock that were especially bad with Tylan 50. Their coop is very well ventilated and I keep it very clean as well. The only facial swelling I have ever noticed is in my one Silkie. Minimal discharge and no bubbles around any of their eyes. Thanks again for your help