sneezing/hiccuping rooster! Any help!

[michellelei1]

I have an 8 month old Polish Rooster that has always sneezed (we've had him from hatching)and it gradually got more frequent. Today he's been sneezing all day and also making a hiccuping sound. His beak and eyes are clear, his droppings look normal. We have had very cold weather and then changing to much warmer. Last week we had over a foot of snow fall and today it's just about all gone. Could the crazy weather changes have anything to do with this? Everything is pretty damp but not terribly cold out today. Their coop is well ventilated and their run is protected from rain/snow, etc.
Should I give him vitamins? How? In the water or directly and how much? Our hen isn't showing any signs of illness and I've never seen her sneezing. They were both hatched together. Should I separate them? They're the only 2 we have.

 

[birdlover]

Gosh, I'm no expert but I'll tell you what I would do (or wouldn't do). If he's been sneezing since birth, he must have some kind of genetic thing. I'd probably just keep a close eye on him and make sure he stays healthy otherwise. I would definitely not separate them if you only have two. That will cause a LOT of stress on both of them. As for vitamins, that certainly wouldn't hurt. Problem is, I've never given them so I can't advise you. I know some use baby polyvisol drops and administer them orally and some put a powder in the water made of vitamins and electrolytes which you can get at most any feed store. I hope someone else comes along shortly to give you more "expert" advise!

And I hope your rooster will be okay.

Ellen

 

[sammi]

check the roos beak nostrils and see if both are clear..one might be blocked..and needs cleaned out, or flushed.
do the eyes look clear? any swelling or drainage from the eyes or nostrils?
any wheezing or breath sounds?

not sure about the "hiccup" sound..

what bedding are you using?
has the coop been cleaned recently?
could be a reaction to dusts or dander or ammonia fumes.

you can get poultry vitamins from most feed/farm stores..it goes in the drinking water.
or..until you can get them..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins..Enfamil brand preferably, no iron..give 2 drops on beak once a day for a week, then taper off for a week.

what all are you feeding them?
do they get any wild bird seed?

 

[sammi]

when I got first got one of my hens, she had that weird cough/hiccup sound..but otherwise ok..
I noticed that she "wolfed down" her food very fast, and alot of it.
where she had come from there were lots of chickens and competition for food..
after she was here for a week or so and learned there was plenty of food..the hiccup sound stopped.
could have been from eating too fast or stress.
tho I did worm her..

does your roo eat his food fast?

do check the nostril, tho.

has the roo been wormed?
if so, when? and what was used?

 

[michellelei1]

He seems much better today. Still sneezing but not as frequently as yesterday. Hiccup thing is gone. I checked his nostrils again and they are clear, eyes too. I'm still keeping watch though.
I'm feeding them layer pellets. They get crackled corn every so often, also oyster shells. They do get various treats too(oatmeal, fruit).
Is it okay to give them regular bird seeds? I saw that was one of the questions?
I have wood shavings in their coop.
These are our first chickens so I appreciate all the information. Really their my son's but I've fallen for them too.

 

[birdlover]

Glad to hear he's doing better! Yes, they're hard not to fall in love with, aren't they?

 

[sammi]

I wouldn't give them bird seeds..

a few sunflowers are ok..
I asked because sometimes the seeds can block the nostril..and cause other conditions.

is he eating and drinking?
how are his droppings?

hope he continues to get better....