Sneezing chicken

[Bernice Clark]

My healthy looking, curious, independent, and alpha chicken (barred rock) has always had a tendency to sneeze. We went on a two week vacation and left them in good hands for that period. When we returned, I noticed she was sneezing a bit more significantly. I've noticed she seems to have a little caked on dusty goo on part of the nostrils. I'm wondering if there is a specific treatment for sneezing or for gently cleaning the nostrils. I don't want to push any of it into the nostrils to cause it to get infected or anything. She is eating, drinking normally and is just Miss Personality...Smartest chicken of my four! Their run is a tad dusty but I keep it very clean. (I do use diatomaceous earth around the coop and run). I don't want to spend the $ for an expensive, unnecessary vet visit. But on the other hand, I don't want it to be a spreadable virus to the other three. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Dust from feed and shavings can be very irritating to chickens making them sneeze. Ammonia odors can also. I would stop the DE for awhile. A wet Q-Tip or small cloth would get caked on food off her nostril if you hold her in your lap. Try switching to pellet feed slowly found it is much less dusty. Keep 2 feeders out, one with pellets, and the other with crumbles, and then stop the crumbles after a couple of weeks. You can also try wetting the feed. Sneezing can be a symptom of infectious bronchitis, but it should affect more than one chicken. Watch for watery eyes, and nasal mucus.

 

[Bernice Clark]

Thank you. It's raining in So Cal today, (YEA!) so I will wait until tomorrow when the sun reappears to gently clean her sinus cavities. I have been mixing the pellet layer feed and the crumbles, but your suggestion of her two feeders sounds good. I use shavings only in their sleeping roosting quarters, and use sand in the run and in their feeding area. There is NO ammonia smell! I clean their night poop every morning, and frequently scoop up run poop during the day…at least morning and evening. These chickies have my undivided attention, and they know it!! I'm their fanatical over protective Mommie!! LOL

 

[Krischick]

Do not wet your feed under any circumstances causes a fatal to chicken bacteria to grow an it will wipe out your flock

 

[Krischick]

But I agree on the switching to pellet feed

 

[Eggcessive]

Adding liquid to feed is fine if you remove the leftovers within 24 hours to prevent mold, and fermented feed is used by many here on this forum. Fermented feed has liquid and some ACV added, and ferments for several days before feeding it.