Sneezing chickens

[newbyhatching]

I have a small flock of chickens, some of them have been sneezing for quite some time. They are 6 months old or 1.5 years old. This morning I have one chicken (6 months) who is still in the hutch sleeping, she is not one that has been sneezing. We lost a couple earlier in the year and I would like to not loose more. We are organic and try and keep medication natural where possible. they get garlic in their water, sometimes a bit of tumeric and gInger as well. I give them diamaceous earth in their food sometimes. Just wondering if anyone knows what might be happening or what I can do to keep them healthy. Vets here won't deal with chickens, I am in the south of Spain. Thanks!

 

[nightowl223]

I have a small flock of chickens, some of them have been sneezing for quite some time. They are 6 months old or 1.5 years old. This morning I have one chicken (6 months) who is still in the hutch sleeping, she is not one that has been sneezing. We lost a couple earlier in the year and I would like to not loose more. We are organic and try and keep medication natural where possible. they get garlic in their water, sometimes a bit of tumeric and gInger as well. I give them diamaceous earth in their food sometimes. Just wondering if anyone knows what might be happening or what I can do to keep them healthy. Vets here won't deal with chickens, I am in the south of Spain. Thanks!

Sneezing can be caused by a huge number of things.
Are there any other symptoms, like watery eyes, drainage from the nares[nostrils], swollen face?
Is there a possibility of mold in the bedding or nestboxes?
Is there dust being kicked up in their coop?
Are you using cedar chips as bedding?
Have you checked them for lice or mites which coud drain them and weaken their immunity?

That's just a few of the many questions that might need to be asked and answered before we can even begin to guess what's going on.

Pictures of the faces of any affected birds might help, too, but they can't be blurry. We need to see if there is any swelling in the sinuses, for example.

 

[Eggcessive]

When sneezing goes through the whole flock with birds sneezing every few minutes, it may may be caused by infectious bronchitis virus. It may be well tolerated by older chickens, but if young chicks or adolescents are exposed, it can cause kidney or reproductive damage in the future. Secondary bacterial infections can be fatal, but most birds survive just IB. Testing a few birds when having symptoms may identify the virus, and IB lasts around a month. It can make your flock carriers for 5 months up to a year, so it is best not to add new or hatch birds to your flock for a year after all sneezing birds have recovered. Otherwise, the new birds keep the disease going in the flock. Of course, chickens may sneeze occasional from dust or other environmental causes, but IB sneezing will occur ever 5 minutes or more. Other symptoms may be a little chest congestion and watery nasal drainage that can attract dirt on the nostrils.

 

[Matilda Belle]

My chickens sneeze all the time, especially when they are eating food from the ground. It could be that they are getting dust/dirt in their nostrils. I personally don't worry about sneezing unless there are other symptoms (lethargy, discharge, coughing, etc.).

 

[newbyhatching]

Sneezing can be caused by a huge number of things.
Are there any other symptoms, like watery eyes, drainage from the nares[nostrils], swollen face?
Is there a possibility of mold in the bedding or nestboxes?
Is there dust being kicked up in their coop?
Are you using cedar chips as bedding?
Have you checked them for lice or mites which coud drain them and weaken their immunity?

That's just a few of the many questions that might need to be asked and answered before we can even begin to guess what's going on.

Pictures of the faces of any affected birds might help, too, but they can't be blurry. We need to see if there is any swelling in the sinuses, for example.

Sneezing can be caused by a huge number of things.
Are there any other symptoms, like watery eyes, drainage from the nares[nostrils], swollen face?
Is there a possibility of mold in the bedding or nestboxes?
Is there dust being kicked up in their coop?
Are you using cedar chips as bedding?
Have you checked them for lice or mites which coud drain them and weaken their immunity?

That's just a few of the many questions that might need to be asked and answered before we can even begin to guess what's going on.

Pictures of the faces of any affected birds might help, too, but they can't be blurry. We need to see if there is any swelling in the sinuses, for example.

Thank you for your response! We use wood chips, bought from the pet store. I don't know what they are exactly. It is cleaned completely usually every 3 days, every day we do a light clean as well, so I am pretty sure there isn't mold or much dust. We don't have lice or mites in the hutch but will see if I can see any on the chickens. I noticed one had a swollen foot the other day. They don't have any other symptoms, although they did. A while ago maybe half the flock went through a period where they had mucous in their noses and sneezing lots. They all cleared up except for the Andalucian blues who are still sneezing regularly (we have 4 of them, 9 browns and 2 blacks). We have lost one of each over the last 6 months, but not necessarily from these symptoms. I am pretty sure that I might be about to loose another brown, shes looking very sad. I will take pictures in the morning. I really appreciate your help!

 

[newbyhatching]

When sneezing goes through the whole flock with birds sneezing every few minutes, it may may be caused by infectious bronchitis virus. It may be well tolerated by older chickens, but if young chicks or adolescents are exposed, it can cause kidney or reproductive damage in the future. Secondary bacterial infections can be fatal, but most birds survive just IB. Testing a few birds when having symptoms may identify the virus, and IB lasts around a month. It can make your flock carriers for 5 months up to a year, so it is best not to add new or hatch birds to your flock for a year after all sneezing birds have recovered. Otherwise, the new birds keep the disease going in the flock. Of course, chickens may sneeze occasional from dust or other environmental causes, but IB sneezing will occur ever 5 minutes or more. Other symptoms may be a little chest congestion and watery nasal drainage that can attract dirt on the nostrils.

I will have a look into this as it might be the case, which is a bit depressing! A while ago maybe half the flock went through a period where they had mucous in their noses and sneezing lots. They all cleared up except for the 4 Andalucian blues who are still sneezing regularly (we have 4 of them, 9 browns and 2 blacks). They don't seem to have any other symptoms now. We have lost one of each over the last 6 months, but not necessarily from these symptoms. I am pretty sure that I might be about to loose another brown, shes looking very sad, but again she hasn't been sneezing.

 

[newbyhatching]

My chickens sneeze all the time, especially when they are eating food from the ground. It could be that they are getting dust/dirt in their nostrils. I personally don't worry about sneezing unless there are other symptoms (lethargy, discharge, coughing, etc.).

Oh thats good to know. It is just our Andalusian blues that are sneezing, so it might be that they are more sensitive.

 

[Eggcessive]

If you see any that are weak or lethargic, try to get them drinking or mix some very watery chick feed. Poultry Cell or NutriDrench day (1 ml for each 3 pounds daily) can be given orally, a couple of drops at a time. Those are good for vitamins/electrolytes/trace minerals/and amino acids.

 

[newbyhatching]

If you see any that are weak or lethargic, try to get them drinking or mix some very watery chick feed. Poultry Cell or NutriDrench day (1 ml for each 3 pounds daily) can be given orally, a couple of drops at a time. Those are good for vitamins/electrolytes/trace minerals/and amino acids.

Thank you!