Chickens sneeze & wheeze .... what's wrong ???

[chickencrazymom]

This is my first time posting here, but I've been watching for months, and know all of you chicken experts will be able to help me out !!! I have a small flock of layers , 12 RIR and NHR , and a Silver Laced Wyandott roo. My problem is that after the rooster crows he has a deep wheeze, and the hens have the same wheeze at times, and have pale ear lobes, and around their eyes is very pale. All sneeze frequently. They are just over a year old. They seem not to be laying great either (unless we haven't found one of their nests yet )I get 5 eggs daily from the 12 of them. We have had a very wet spring , but is is drier now. Thank you in advance for your help !!

 

[<3<3 I <3 Chickens <3<3]

Yes, my chickens do sneeze, I acutly had a roo who would crow, then let out a verry, high piched sneeze!!! Just leave them be. You sneeze sometimes to, don't you??? nothing is wrong!! don't worry about it! Just go on with your live.

AND HAVE FUN WITH CHICKENS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[dlhunicorn]

are you located elsewhere than the USA (your mention of spring)
The first thing to do is to clean everything and remove anywet/damp areas in the coop etc.
Give Polyvisol (or similar) enfamil formulation > four drops in beak once a day as vit A deficiency presents with the same symptoms and goes often hand in hand with respiratory illness (this is a liquid childrens A-B-D vitamin) > do this for two weeks.
Look for a complete general supplement (AviaCharge 2000 is an excellent one but it is only available online from McMurry or Strombergs).
If they are truly showing signs of a respiratory illness (symptoms that are bad enough that general supportive measures above are likely to be insufficient) then I suggest you treat with Tylan.

 

[chickencrazymom]

Thank you for your responses !I know that chickens sneeze, but what about the wheeze ? I have one hen that is worse than the others , and she has an almost constant wheeze. I had also thought that it might be a vitamin deficiency. I will try giving them some vitamins. I need to sell some of these girls in a few weeks to make room for some other egg layers that are going to be replacing them (now living on my lawn in a chicken tractor ), and want to make sure that they are healthy! I don't want to give someone an un-healthy bird , or have sick birds !!

VERY FRUSTRATING !!!

 

[dlhunicorn]

I urge you NOT to sell these birds until they are symptom free (so many sad stories of an entire flock being ill from newly acquired birds) as moving to a different location is very stressful for birds > if the birds are even a bit off weather it is often enough to do them in.
You can look in a pet store for a vit A supplement if you cannot find polyvisol or equivalent for birds but do try and find a general complete supplement in addition to that that is especially formulated for chickens.

 

[chickencrazymom]

They would be going to my freind that doesn't currently have any chickens, so infecting others wouldn't be a problem.But I'm with you, I don't even want to sell them until ther are well. I will try the vitamins as soon as I am able to buy some , and I've wanted to buy a suppliment for a while, and will now do research and get one. Thank you for your help !

 

[wlrcad]

If there face is swelling than it is Infectious Coryza.. it can be deadly but is really easy to treat... just wipe Apple Cider Vinegar on it everyday and put some in all of the hens drinking water... VERY contagous! Are hens had it and we just kept using Apple Cider Vinegar... It was gone within 1 week and a 1/2!