Hen sneezing

[Hubert Cumberdale]

We have a hen that seems to be sneezing quite a bit. Last week it seemed quite lethargic and was off its food for a day. Now she's eating and drinking well, very active but sneezing a fair bit. No mucus, discharge or eye bubbles. We have 4 hens that have only come into lay within the last month. All the others seem fine. Any suggestions?
Thanks

 

[rebrascora]

Respiratory infections are pretty common in chickens but they can also be susceptible to dust and ammonia from droppings, so the first thing to do would be to assess their environment and your management system and see if the latter may be issues and what you can do to improve it.
Infections and diseases, particularly viral ones, have to run their course. Antibiotics will help with a bacterial infection, but plenty of times, birds will recover without antibiotics and personally I believe many people are too keen to use them at the slightest sign of respiratory problems when in my experience, birds are quite able to fight off many infections. Vet RX can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms and opening up their airways if they are congested or even Vicks Vapour Rub, but generally I ensure they have good nutrition, perhaps give them a poultry vitamin supplement to support the immune system and monitor the bird, but accept it has to run it's course and only consider medicinal intervention if the bird is clearly deteriorating and distressed.
If you think of yourself with a common cold.... it's a viral infection.... you cough and sneeze and perhaps wheeze and have a snotty nose, but there is generally no necessity for antibiotics and after a couple of weeks or maybe even a month, it is gone..... chickens are no different in that they will pick up viruses and infections just like we do.
You have the option to isolate the bird to try to prevent the other 3 from getting it but then you will have the problem of reintroduction at a later date and isolated hens usually get depressed and that compromises the immune system. I leave the flock together and let these things run their course, but everyone has their own opinion and I am sure others will express theirs, so that you can then make an informed decision.

Best wishes

Barbara

 

[Hubert Cumberdale]

Thanks for taking the time to answer my post. We've only had them for 11 days and these are our first. My level of paranoia has definitely reinforced the option of never having kids lol I'd be a mess. We were quite thorough to make sure dust levels were as low as possible. Dust free shavings etc apart from the sneezing theirs definitely been an upwards trend since she seemed to get ill the the day after getting her. Thanks for your advice, you're a legend.