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.

 

[BLElford]

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.

This was my thought too. I would have assumed it would be passed by now if it was a clipping. But after seeing this massive tumor like ball that the other Pullet pushed out of her eye, I’m not so sure. And she is otherwise seemingly totally fine. I have tried to oil her a few different times. I guess I’ll just wait and see if anything changes.
Thanks for the input!

 

[Debbie292d]

This was my thought too. I would have assumed it would be passed by now if it was a clipping. But after seeing this massive tumor like ball that the other Pullet pushed out of her eye, I’m not so sure. And she is otherwise seemingly totally fine. I have tried to oil her a few different times. I guess I’ll just wait and see if anything changes.
Thanks for the input!

Hopefully this passes! If she gets any symptoms of respiratory infection, I'd get her on antibiotics right away. Jedds or Twin City Poultry are two sites you can get online from.

Just FYI, Terramycin is for eye infections. I know she doesn't have, but just in case you ever see anything like that in the future, I'd put that in their eye a couple of times a day.