Sick Leghorns

[Cazzy]

Hi
I have a mixed flock,including leghorns, pekins, and OEGs. Recently, 2 of the leghorns have started sneezing.They have absolutely no other symptoms and they look genuinely surprised when they sneeze. There's no head shaking, weight loss, discharge... or anything! It has been very dry and our soil is pretty sandy. They constantly roll about and sunbathe! Is it possible they have a dust allergy!?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi @Cazzy

How often is the sneezing?

When do you notice the sneezing the most - during/after they have been eating, when dust bathing, etc.?

Occasional sneezing can be things like dry dusty conditions, dust bathing, dusty feed, bedding, getting some feed in their nostrils or eating too quickly.

Watch to see when they do it the most, you may be correct that it's just the dry conditions that you are experiencing right now.

If you start to hear coughing, rattling while breathing, congestion or see mucous from the nostrils or discharge/watery eyes - like you would see with a respiratory illness, then it would be best to consult a vet.

 

[Cazzy]

The sneezing seems to be at different times, but always when the weather is dry and almost never if it is raining. We have recently moved to a different area where soil types and vegetation are different - next door do not tend their allotment at all, so the weeds are head height

Unfortunately, catching them is a nightmare (in the dark only) - we have tried everything to tame them... the OEGs and pekins love a bit of fuss, but the leghorns (4 0f them) are all mental!! Suppose this is a good sign as nothing could be this lively and really ill...

Guessing at a dust allergy / hayfever (?!)

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would say it's dust.

Leghorns can be very active and lively I think you have to handle them fairly young, I have one that is around 3mos. she's fairly tame, but can be a bit flighty - I mark it up as the nature of the breed.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Hi
I have a mixed flock,including leghorns, pekins, and OEGs. Recently, 2 of the leghorns have started sneezing.They have absolutely no other symptoms and they look genuinely surprised when they sneeze. There's no head shaking, weight loss, discharge... or anything! It has been very dry and our soil is pretty sandy. They constantly roll about and sunbathe! Is it possible they have a dust allergy!?

Hi!! Mine do the same thing and it has not occurred to me that it could be bad. I don’t think that it is a big problem unless it is often. Maybe water down the soil?? Mine are sneezing less after this so maybe dust gets into their lungs?