Just dust or respiratory problems?

[wesley m]

My chicks are all between 2 and 3 weeks old. They have been sneezing lately. I have checked them and they don't have any drainage. However, some of them make plugged up noises when breathing every once in a while, and some of them swallow randomly. Is this just a reaction to the pine dust, or is it something bigger?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Where did you get your chicks? Have they been exposed to possible respiratory diseases since birth?

If they are hatchery chicks and have no exposure to any other poultry I'd assume it could just be environmental. They will swallow to adjust their crops- it looks almost like a yawn.

I don't know about the plugged up noises...I hope this helps.

Make sure you don't have mold brewing under your waterers.

 

[wesley m]

All my chicks were purchased from Cal Ranch Store, a chain farm supply store. The store had several different breeds of chickens (all chicks). They also had at one point a breed of ducks, and a breed of turkeys. However, each breed of chicks, turkeys, ducks were in same breed enclosures so none of them shared water or food except for chicks of the same breed. I've cleaned my food and water dishes. Iwill cchange the bedding tomorrow but ill be sure to shake out as much dust as possible from the bedding before putting it in the coop. Any other suggestions? I am using a medication (forgot the name but its yellow and stinks when dissolved one Ayer) in their water just in case. I am hoping for the best. My biggest question is will the eggs produced by my hens be safe for human consumption if they are in fact diseased or have respiratory issues? Thenk you!

 

[wesley m]

All my chicks were purchased from Cal Ranch Store, a chain farm supply store. The store had several different breeds of chickens (all chicks). They also had at one point a breed of ducks, and a breed of turkeys. However, each breed of chicks, turkeys, ducks were in same breed enclosures so none of them shared water or food except for chicks of the same breed. I've cleaned my food and water dishes. Iwill cchange the bedding tomorrow but ill be sure to shake out as much dust as possible from the bedding before putting it in the coop. Any other suggestions? I am using a medication (forgot the name but its yellow and stinks when dissolved one Ayer) in their water just in case. I am hoping for the best. My biggest question is will the eggs produced by my hens be safe for human consumption if they are in fact diseased or have respiratory issues? Thenk you!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

All my chicks were purchased from Cal Ranch Store, a chain farm supply store. The store had several different breeds of chickens (all chicks). They also had at one point a breed of ducks, and a breed of turkeys. However, each breed of chicks, turkeys, ducks were in same breed enclosures so none of them shared water or food except for chicks of the same breed. I've cleaned my food and water dishes. Iwill cchange the bedding tomorrow but ill be sure to shake out as much dust as possible from the bedding before putting it in the coop. Any other suggestions? I am using a medication (forgot the name but its yellow and stinks when dissolved one Ayer) in their water just in case. I am hoping for the best. My biggest question is will the eggs produced by my hens be safe for human consumption if they are in fact diseased or have respiratory issues? Thenk you!

Hmm I don't really know the answer to that. I am sure it would depend on the type of germ but don't know.

If they were my chicks I'd still chalk it up to environmental issues at this point...but that's just me. I don't really see anything in your post that would make me think it had to be disease at all. If they are reacting to the dust of the shavings that would explain it.

Here is a nice link with graphic photos of mycoplasma gallisepticum (chronic respiratory disease) which is why it is very good to get your chicks from a feed store/hatchery or reputable breeder, as this is a very large problem in backyard flocks and thus a chicken who is a carrier of this will look healthy after recovering from it, but make your other chickens sick, and it passes through the egg to the chick:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/183/mycoplasma

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044
another helpful link with charts at bottom

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps020
egg quality

Frankly if it were me I'd not worry at this point.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Oh and I forgot to add that chickens are VERY sensitive to dust and respiratory irritants.

For example, my chickens sneeze when I am stirring up dust in the coop.

If there is ammonia in the coop it can irritate their lungs, as can cedar shavings, and things like tea tree oil or aromatic oils. They have very sensitive lungs.