Infectious Bronchitis

[ewesfullchicks]

It could be just a build-up of ammonia when they are all concentrated together going to roost at night.

That's why I'm building a huge new hoop house to better house them.

It's important that hen houses are well-ventilated to help protect against respiratory/eye burning, problems etc. due to ammonia.

Best wishes,

Rachel

 

[speckledhen]

I second the ammonia comment. If you get down to the birds' level, you will have a whole new perspective on the smell. And it can build up faster than you realize, especially in winter when they are inside more and people tend to close down the vents too much due to the cold.

 

[BayCityBabe]

I was lucky enough to chat with one of the few vets that sees chickens, here in Michigan. I asked about testing, as a handfull of my chickens had some kinda respiratory crud in Sept. We had no losses, all recovered. However, I have been reading all these posts about "lifetime carriers" and "cull the flock". This vet replied that if I have a loss in the future, I should certainly consider a necropsy, since there are about a dozen chicken illnesses that have similar symptoms.
"But what about NOW???", I replied. (Because I am a moron who likes to throw money at veterinarians at every turn...

)
The vet then asked, "Well, they're okay, now, aren't they?" (Like, duh.)

I am still shaking my head at this one. I think we need to ask what culling would accomplish.

 

[speckledhen]

Many people cull for respiratory illness. I dont agree with the vet because a carrier that can infect others for the rest of its life is not okay, even if it's asymptomatic. If someone has had respiratory illness in the flock, that flock should be closed, no birds in and no birds out. Unless you know exactly which illness they have, you will not know if its a carrier disease. Now, if you never plan to get more birds or let any leave your property, you can choose to treat rather than cull. JMHO.
Jane, it's probably nothing. Just observe and listen for further problems.

 

[BayCityBabe]

Oh, we are a closed flock. I ended up with a couple of sick birds after introducing three birds that have been "perfectly healthy" for all the months I have owned them.
Also: I have not read anything that convinces me that quarantining new birds is any kind of panacea. You might catch that a newbie has cocci or something, but all the Big-Bad illnesses can be stealthy, right?
I agree with others that are blaiming the sneezing on dust or ammonia. Heaven knows, my coop is fairly clean, but the girls have scratched the pine shavings into powder!

 

[speckledhen]

I never would claim quarantine is perfect because a carrier bird may not come down with symptoms during a 4-6 week period. It's just the least we can do to perhaps allow something to come to the surface. The best way to prevent illness coming into your flock is to never buy started birds in the first place.
Ammonia can certainly sneak up on you, so that would be the first thing to check if sneezing starts, that and dust.