Sneezing and wheezing but no other symptoms? Please help!

[BrowncoatChicks]

Hi all,

Last night when I went to lock up my chickens my Easter Egger hen sneezed maybe twice. I didn't think much of it at the time. Then, today, she was sneezing more than usual but otherwise looked and acted fine. Then, tonight when I went to lock them up, in addition to the sneezing, I could hear her as she was breathing, even from like a foot and a half away. She looks and acts fine and even laid an egg today. What's up with her? Please help! She's five years old but that's not that old for a chicken, right? Help!

 

[Stiggy]

Depending on the breed, depends on the definition of old. some chickens can live an awfully long time, some more than others. We had a hen live till she was 13 then we had to put her to sleep as she had arthritis and it was a bad winter where it wasn't fair on her. Chickens do sneeze from time to time, especially as they get dirt and pollen etc up their noses from pecking and scratching around. however if she is also making gurgly raspy sounds then she may have a lung infection like pneumonia or a cold. check her nostrials for discharge, especially if it smell, or her face is swelling up. if you are really concerned take her to a vet, as they may have an idea what it could be, though my guess would be of the above.

 

[BrowncoatChicks]

Thanks so much for your reply, Stiggy! This morning I can no longer hear her breathing, but the more-frequent-than-usual sneezing is still there. Could I chalk it up to chicken allergies? Also, I found a mushy, cracked-open egg on the floor of the henhouse this morning. As I was cleaning out the henhouse just now I found lots of yolk residue, so maybe this has happened in the past. I've been away at university and I'm not sure if my parents were that observant about chicken-related things. I'm thinking maybe I could attribute that to the advanced age of my birds considering they come from hatchery stock. My other chicken also has some black spots on her comb, but honestly I think those are just scabs from being picked on by the other hen, which happens a lot. If anyone thinks otherwise please let me know!

 

[victoriagoodrch]

your chicken might just have a minor cold. one of our roosters sneezes almost everyday, but has lived for a very long time. i suggest just checking up on the hen once in a while to make sure it's not something major. also, the black spots on your hen's comb is most definitely from just scabs. most of my chickens have them, but they're all very healthy!