sneezing chickens

[chicksnaroo]

Hello,
I went out to see my girls and let them out of their coop for a few hours. 3 of the 4 hens were sneezing while eating. They do this cute high tone 'chew'....
now, only one of them is sneezing.....what may it be?

 

[Posh Chickens]

These are signs of Micoplasma, this is a 'cold' for chickens, you can use something called Tylan to cure it, just put some in your water. It is easy to get rid of, it is caused by wild bird droppings while/if you let them free roam, or even if a wild bird has pooped in your pen, do not worry. I recommend that you leave it for now, and see if they start to have bubbles in their eyes or a terrible smell coming from their eyes/nose.

Rob.

 

[speckledhen]

Don't jump to conclusions if it's just sneezing when they eat. They do that from dusty feed or from eating too fast. They can also have sneezing fits if the ammonia levels have risen too high or they are in a coop with new plywood, which has chemicals used in lamination. In absence of other symptoms, I'd think it was environmental. I have a hen who has sneezing fits when she eats and has for years. There's not a thing wrong with her, never has been.


Tylan will not cure mycoplasmosis, though, contrary to what has been said. I want to make sure folks know this--chickens don't get head colds like humans do. That is a carrier disease and they will always have it in their bodies and will infect others. No antibiotics will fix a virus and they won't stop a recovered bird from being a carrier. For that reason, most real breeders will not treat it; they cull for respiratory illness, as I would.

 

[Posh Chickens]

Well, Here in the UK, a lot of chickens die from 'Mycoplasmosis' and infact, one of my own has.. And they was in a pair, luckily I got to save the other one in time, I don't understand? Tylan cured it... And your absolutely right with the dust, but I said if bubbles come out of their eyes and you can smell a stench, maybe it would be time to use Tylan.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i wouldn't worry about it until you see other symptoms, such as a runny nose or hear raspy breathing. i occasionally will hear a hen sneeze, or do extended sneezing for a spell. It always resolves so i assume they got a piece of dust up their nose.

Posh Chickens, Tylan won't cure Mycoplasma gallesepticum (or synoviae) as there is no cure. The Tylan seems to resolve the symptoms in some cases, but the MG will go dormant and the chicken will be a carrier for life. It's like herpes in people. You can take medication which seems to resolve the symptoms, but the virus is still there. And, MG like herpes will become active during periods of high stress (like introducing new chickens to the flock).

 

[Posh Chickens]

So it eventually goes?

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

Not necessarily. Your chicken may live a long life. i have a chicken who was exposed to MG after introducing new birds to her pen (stupid me). They all got sick and i euthanized and had necropsies performed on them all, except her (i couldn't bear to let her go). She developed symptoms, recovered, and is doing fine now, but i have a closed flock because of it - no chickens in, no chickens out. Even though the pen she was in is separate from my other pens, i have to assume that there is now MG exposure to all of my flock. i'm fine with having a closed flock, i have plenty to keep me busy, and my husband is thrilled that i won't be adding any new chickens.