HELP! WHY ARE MY CHICKENS SNEEZING?!

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

I am posting this add concerning my brothers flock. He has noticed lately that his chickens have been sneezing and have runny noses. It started off with just one and now most of the flock has runny noses or is sneezing. So whatever they have has spread through the flock very quickly. I had a look at them and noticed a few with swollen eyes. Some with slightly opened mouths as if holding in a sneeze or something. I checked for lice and found a few at the base of the feathers. Did not see any eggs yet. Could the poultry lice possibly affect their repertory systems causing them to have stuffed noses amd sneezing? Apple cider vinegar and garlic has been added to their water. I will be picking up Dr. Doom (which is a permethrin spray) to clean the coop and spray all the cracks and chickens.

Any suggestions as to what this might be? And how we can treat? Any advice would be greatly appreciated

 

[LeoTheUnicorn]

I think some form of upper respiratory infection. Mycoplasma gallisepticum ( MG) is a fairly contagious bacteria and can produce those symptoms. Have there been any changes within the coop that may have stressed them out?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am posting this add concerning my brothers flock. He has noticed lately that his chickens have been sneezing and have runny noses. It started off with just one and now most of the flock has runny noses or is sneezing. So whatever they have has spread through the flock very quickly. I had a look at them and noticed a few with swollen eyes. Some with slightly opened mouths as if holding in a sneeze or something. I checked for lice and found a few at the base of the feathers. Did not see any eggs yet. Could the poultry lice possibly affect their repertory systems causing them to have stuffed noses amd sneezing? Apple cider vinegar and garlic has been added to their water. I will be picking up Dr. Doom (which is a permethrin spray) to clean the coop and spray all the cracks and chickens.

Any suggestions as to what this might be? And how we can treat? Any advice would be greatly appreciatedView attachment 2299317

Where are you located in the world? Canada?
Is vet care an option?
When's the last time he added new birds to his flock?
Are there any lesions or mucous inside the beak?

There are many respiratory diseases that affect poultry - Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Coryza, ILT and Mycoplasma are the some of the more common ones.

Getting some testing is a good way to determine what disease you are dealing with so you know how to treat. Some diseases like IB and ILT are viruses so antibiotics will not treat those. MG and Infectious Coryza are bacterial and symptoms can be treated with antibiotics, but knowing which disease helps you figure out what medication to give. MG can be treated with Tylosin, Tiamulin or one of the "cyclines", while Coryza is treated with Sulfa antibiotics.

Swelling of the eyes, there is often pus. They need to be flushed, pus removed and an eye ointment applied a couple of times a day.

 

[Tre3hugger]

Does the co-op have adequate ventilation?

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

I think some form of upper respiratory infection. Mycoplasma gallisepticum ( MG) is a fairly contagious bacteria and can produce those symptoms. Have there been any changes within the coop that may have stressed them out?

Yes my brother has added 25 new additions on Sunday and like 15 were introduced before that. So do you think the stress of adding new chickens could have caused the bacteria?)

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

Does the co-op have adequate ventilation?

I don't think the coop has ventilation... but is a fairly big coop that has lots of space. But i will talk with him about adding a ventilation systems

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

Where are you located in the world? Canada?
Is vet care an option?
When's the last time he added new birds to his flock?
Are there any lesions or mucous inside the beak?

There are many respiratory diseases that affect poultry - Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Coryza, ILT and Mycoplasma are the some of the more common ones.

Getting some testing is a good way to determine what disease you are dealing with so you know how to treat. Some diseases like IB and ILT are viruses so antibiotics will not treat those. MG and Infectious Coryza are bacterial and symptoms can be treated with antibiotics, but knowing which disease helps you figure out what medication to give. MG can be treated with Tylosin, Tiamulin or one of the "cyclines", while Coryza is treated with Sulfa antibiotics.

Swelling of the eyes, there is often pus. They need to be flushed, pus removed and an eye ointment applied a couple of times a day.

Thanks for your reply! I am located Ontario Canada. I think vet care will have to be a option at this point because of how fast it has spread, we can't seperate the infected to treat. Now we have to treat the whole flock.

Another question: in the same coop my brother has a corner sectioned off with 2 dozen around a mix of 1 week old chicks and 5 week old chicks. Should we remove them from the coop? Could they also be affected by this?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Yes my brother has added 25 new additions on Sunday and like 15 were introduced before that. So do you think the stress of adding new chickens could have caused the bacteria?)

Thanks for your reply! I am located Ontario Canada. I think vet care will have to be a option at this point because of how fast it has spread, we can't seperate the infected to treat. Now we have to treat the whole flock.
Another question: in the same coop my brother has a corner sectioned off with 2 dozen around a mix of 1 week old chicks and 5 week old chicks. Should we remove them from the coop? Could they also be affected by this?

Likely the chicks have already been exposed to whatever disease you are dealing with, but if you have a secure place to move them, then it may not be a bad idea.

The new birds were not quarantined? Likely they brought in something, but it can be hard to know how it started. Some flocks are carriers and stress can trigger symptoms.

Hopefully you will be able to contact your vet and get some testing to find out they cause. Medications can help with symptoms, but depending on what this is, birds can remain carriers for life.

 

[Tre3hugger]

I don't think the coop has ventilation... but is a fairly big coop that has lots of space. But i will talk with him about adding a ventilation systems

No ventilation is probably cauzing respiratory issues through the inhalation of urate ammonia and fecal dust. Adding some windows with HWC over them would be a relatively easy fix, and should probably be done regardless for the health of current and future birds.

 

[Savannah_loves_chickens]

No ventilation is probably cauzing respiratory issues through the inhalation of urate ammonia and fecal dust. Adding some windows with HWC over them would be a relatively easy fix, and should probably be done regardless for the health of current and future birds.

Never mind i just talked with my brother amd he has a good ventilation system. The roof vents, and windows are open everyday