Sneezing Chickens

[herminiehens]

Hi everyone!

Our flock of about 30 has been sneezing and has runny noses. They don't act "sick", like some hens tend to when they aren't feeling well (e.g. standing around, looking off blankly, being standoffish). We've used the general antibiotic, tetracycline, but it doesn't seem to help. Any suggestions? A farmer that we buy our chickens from said that when his flock was sneezing, it was because of elongated mites or something like that, that get into the birds' sinuses. I haven't asked him what it was yet, but does anyone know? I'm trying to do some research, but I thought this would be a good place to ask. Thanks!

 

[WiscoChiko]

Hi There, I am really new to the chicken world, but have done a great deal of reading in the last week. I will simply give you some things to think about and research. I had an infestation of some sort and have read about and used sevin dust powder on my hens and it seems to have helped, its the 5% kind that you would use on veggies. I guess that is best for lice and mites.
Have you wormed your chickens I have read it is a good thing to do. Wazine then ivermectin if I'm correct.
Are you giving them an electrolyte supplement it helps chickens fight things off.
Respitory issues seem to be hard to diagnose I've been posting for a week and have received little help

Hope your chickens get better soon! W.C.


https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=394446

 

[Cetawin]

Did I read correctly that the chickens came from this farmer who has sneezing chickens? If so, you need to report him.

Sneezing is normal if they get something up their nose or something irritates it like dust etc etc but runny noses with any type of discharge is a major problem, that is respiratory. The problem with respiratory illnesses is that they are contagious so your other birds will get it if they do not already have it.

The next problem is that it is difficult to cure most often and when the illness itself is gone, the bird is a carrier. This means any new birds you bring in will get it. You need to seek a vet's examination and prescription.... tetracycline is not going to do anything. The stuff you pick up at the feed store and etc is not going to do anything either...you might have some luck with Tylan but don't bank on it.

Also, respiratory illness in your flock means you really need to close your flock...or cull it. Closing it means no birds or eggs in or out of your flock..until every last member of the flock has died and everyng sterilized and re-sterilized. Culling...killing the entire flock and sterilizing etc etc.

You really need to get a bird examined by a vet or have one sent to the State Lab for a necropsy.

Worming with Ivermectin pour-on will rid most external parasites also but this sounds respiratory.

Good luck with your birds.

 

[teddiliza]

I actually owned a pair of bantams that was allergic to the pine shaving beddings I was using. I found out by switching them to sand bedding and their runny noses stopped- they acted completely healthy. I also purchased a bantam from a poultry show that was allergic to the dust in my car or the lice spray someone had sprayed there, and stopped sneezing when he settled in here. BUT: if they cough and have anything CRUSTY and YELLOW sticking to their eyes or nostrils, or sound wheezy/congested you best cull them or have the vet examine them.

 

[Aj1911]

before you cull or give up on birds i suggest trying things no one else thinks of

and if you dont sell the birds or give them a way is it a big deal if you breed with them for your own use? no its not in fact the next generation will be more resistant to it then the last so over time as long as you dont give any birds away to people that have chickens/fowl already i dont see a problem and also if some one insists on buying a bird from you tell them everything.

as for something most people dont think of try some GSE for it it does wonders for humans why not birds as well? worth a shot imo heck its been proven to kill MRSA the worst thing around that humans can get its also been proven to treat avian influenza in chickens, who knows might just clear it right up

alot of people try antibiotics from vets and wonder why they dont work, well they are just 1 compound where GSE is 100's that all have anti-bacterial properties heck thats why most things have became resistant to human drugs as well (it was tested on 90 different viruses, 70 different strains of fungi and 200 strains of bacteria and killed them all in a harvard lab test, and proved more effective in cleaning then iodine or 70% alcohol)

good luck

btw i am not a vet just have some neat books on natural antibiotics.

 

[CarolAnn]

This evening I noticed that one of my chickens seems to be sneezing. She's also breathing through her mouth. I came on here quick to read what I can about what to do.
What is GSE?

 

[new chick 203]

Quote:
What is GSE?

 

[Fowlty Towers]

bump... I'd like to know, too.

 

[CorgiHouse]

Quote:
I'm just curious about this............I understand no birds in or out, but when you say no eggs out of your flock, are you saying the disease can be passed on through the eggs? And if so, does that mean just no chicks hatching from those eggs to other people, or are they unsafe to eat?? If the OP decides to 'close' her flock can she continue to eat her eggs produced with no problem?

 

[junglebird]

GSE - grapefruit seed exctract