Non Respiratory Sneeze

[BLElford]

I have a 4mo old Pullet. Almost 2 months ago she and a second Pullet presented with watery, goopy eyes. My first thought was something respiratory. Fast forward Hen A recovered within about a week. She showed no other symptoms other than her eyes. Hen B ended up with a massive growth in one eye which looked like a tumor. It finally got to a point I was able to remove it. It was a ball of hard waxy puss and inside was a very small piece of grass. So based on this I am pretty sure that both pullets got grass clipping in their face the day I mowed. This also jives with how quickly it came on the exact same day and no other symptoms.

Hen A recovered quickly from her eye issue but since has had a honking sneeze. I am 90% sure she has a grass clipping lodged somewhere in her airway or nasal tract. She’s eating, not lethargic, no wheezy or raspy breathing, eating well. But she shakes her head and honks/sneezes throughout the day and night for weeks now.

Anyone have any suggestions on how I can help her clear this? My husband thinks the humane thing is to cull her. But she is perfectly healthy otherwise and a sweet little hen.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Well, it's hard to understand since this happened two months ago, she for sure by now should have gotten it unlodged if it was a grass clipping. One aid for chicks/chickens that swallow something that gets stuck is to syringe or use an eyedropper and give them a little coconut oil or vegetable oil to their right side of their mouth. Just a few drops should do it.

As long as she's functioning like a chicken as in eating, drinking, pooping normally, and seemingly not in any distress, I guess I'd hope that maybe she'd outgrow it. I wouldn't cull a chicken in this case.

I'd perhaps put them all on some vitamins though, like you can get Poultry Cell or Nutri-Drench and put it in their water a couple of times a week. It might help her out, especially since she's expelling so much more energy than normal. Plus, in case she's fighting any kind of infection, that would help too.