sneezing and coughing chicken

[tatiana916]

I'm new to chicken keeping I've had my first small flock for almost 2 months now.
One of my hens (called Wolverine- wasn't my name choice!! Haha) has started sneezing constantly, like every few seconds, and she will also do something that looks and sounds like a mix between a cough and a choke. I put my ear against her back last night and her breathing was very raspy. She isn't off her food or water and she's got plenty of energy still.
I did change the type of straw I used a few weeks ago and just wondering if that may be contributing to it....?
The other two, Batman and Bruce Lee (again didn't choose the names!!) Seem absolutely fine.

If anyone could shed some light on what may be causing it and how to help her it would be greatly appreciated!

 

[rbaker0345]

She might have a sensitivity to the new straw which has set up a URI. Try changing back and treating with terramyacin. Petsmart sells a good one that is very palateable, its called ornamyacin. Also, try making a mash in you food processor of kale (or some equivalent green), lots of garlic and olive oil and nilla wafers for flavor. The kale is high in beta carotene which gives the moucous membranes a boost in healing and garlic and olive oil contain natural antibiotics that bacteria cant develop a resistance to.

 

[dawg53]

If it's an environmental issue, make the necessary changes and eliminate the problem(s) WITHOUT the use of antibiotics.

 

[henney penny]

Dawg I have a couple chickens that are coughing or sneezing,one is a faverolle so I put her in a cage today and noticed that she is stretching her neck and opening her mouth to.She is eating and drinking well.She is just finishing her molt,she is two years old and has this cough on and off for a few months now.I just started reading up on it and am not sure what it is,so I started her on polyvsol and some feed with vetrx mixed in it.I know its respotory she does have a little rattle,I could only hear it when I picked her up and reallhy listened to her.No watery eyes or runny nose that I can see.One person suggested tylan but would like some other suggestions that would be more on the natural side.Thanks

 

[sherylreno]

Hi Henney - Could it be gape worm? This sounds exactly like it.

 

[tatiana916]

I changed the straw about 2 weeks ago. I started using straw suitable for rabbits and small animals which was around the same time she started sneezing so I went back to 'farmyard straw' that I use for the horses and within a few days there was no sneezing! They are due for reworming though so I'll do it just incase, thank-you!

 

[tatiana916]

Only just read your post Henney. Your chicken sounds just like how Wolverine was! Wheezing, sneezing and stretching her neck yet no funny nose or eyes and could still eat everything in sight. I gave her a meal of porridge, olive oil, poultry spice and finely chopped kale (only because they wouldn't eat it as big leaves so

I popped it in the food processor) and put poultry cider vinegar in the water. Changed the straw and left the door of the coup wide open allowing as much ventilation throughout the day as possible, within a week there was absolutely no sneezing or wheezing

 

[henney penny]

Quote:
I watched a video on utube with a hen that had gape worm and she does not look anything like that.Althought I did think of that. Tatiana916 There is a lot of dust in my coop from the pine shavings,that could be it,right now I`m giving her polyvsol vit. and tomorow I`ll give her some yogurt and keep her a few days in the cage so I can keep an eye on her and go from there.

 

[henney penny]

Checked on her a few times today watched her about 15 min each time and saw no stretching of the neck or coughing.Will give her more vit and yogurt tomorow.

 

[miss silky]

One of my girls was coughing for a weekor two now and now thesecond one iscoming down with it. I moved all three until i can clean out the pen. Is it from wet bedding or no warm light?