Sneezing Chicken - Please confirm my suspicions

[australorpchick]

I double checked and there was swelling on the one eye and the smell is back. I have sinced called the man I bought them from and will be bringing them back to him, since he swears that they are okay. He believes the swelling is due to a mosquito bite, despite my arguments that the symptoms indicate coryza.

I am so bummed

, I was really getting attached to these birds, they are so sweet. We had friends in our backyard who were standing withing 12 feet of the kennel and they had no idea there were chickens in there.

I'm keeping a close eye on other birds that I have quarantined at my house. Luckily I've been keeping them on the other side of the house and have been practicing biosecurity, except for using the same transportation crate to bring them home. (That loud noise was my hand smacking my forehead.

) On the bright side, it had been sitting unused for several days.

That's enough buying started birds for me. I can't take the heartbreak. Speckledhen you've written that you have a closed flock. How do/did you obtain your birds? Do you only hatch your own eggs or do you buy fertile eggs from others? What would you do if you wanted to start with a different breed?

I'm so grateful that BYC exists and there are so many knowledgeable, helpful people here.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

My chickens were also sneezing with watery runny nose. I have 5 little EE pullets (8 weeks) and I have my adults. The little ones started with it first and then my adults. In Michigan the weather is so up and down this time of the year that I think that effects my birds. One of my little ones did get a tiny bit of a clear watery eye. So I did put everybody on Duramycin from TSC as suggested by a fellow Michigander with chickens. And everyone is doing great! I do have on hen who is sneezing a little bit now, she was always a sneezer. All chickens acted fine the whole time they were sick. I am leaning towards this crazy Michigan weather.

 

[australorpchick]

Now the bubbles are gone and there's no swelling. Her waddles and comb are more red today. Occasional sneezing and still a slightly funky smell. I'm just so confused with the symptoms, especially the smell. It's not pleasant, but by far not the worse thing I've ever smelled. Actually, when I got my first two silkies, they smelled muuuucchh worse and I know that had to be stress and their living conditions, because the place where I bought them from smelled. It was so bad, I drove with my head out the window. I've decided to take them to a vet, it's going to cost $30. I figure I've spent several thousand on my dogs and cats, I can swing that much for my chickens.

Please say a prayer, cross your fingers and think positive thoughts!

 

[speckledhen]

Speckledhen you've written that you have a closed flock. How do/did you obtain your birds? Do you only hatch your own eggs or do you buy fertile eggs from others? What would you do if you wanted to start with a different breed?

If I need birds from outside my flock, I buy hatching eggs from very reputable breeders here that I've known for awhile and hatch them here. I also can hatch from my own flock. No bird who leaves this place can come back here is the rule, too. Once they are off my place, I can't know what they've been exposed to. Let us know what the vet says.​