Sneezing in new chicks for first flock.

[aart]

I think there's a couple respiratory illnesses that can be carried by chickens with no symptoms...or they can have mild symptoms that pop up under stress.
Might not make them really sick acting or kill them but they can suffer occasionally and they can spread it to others.

 

[BluElf]

I've heard about and read about at least a couple of those. Not sure what to make of it yet. On the one hand, I don't want continually sick birds, nor do I want sick birds every time I introduce new ones. Never mind worrying about passively spreading something to other flocks. However, if it is a strain not-unlike chickenpox is in humans where once you have it, you gain an immunity but it remains passive in your body, subdued by your immune system, that seems like something I wouldn't want to cull the whole flock over. And I am keeping them on pasture so they would likely be exposed to it again if is something they picked up here. So.. undecided. SO far, like I said, they all exhibit healthy behaviors and energy from all my observations and those of my far more experienced friend with a Vet Med degree and Vet experience. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst just in case.

 

[aart]

I've heard about and read about at least a couple of those. Not sure what to make of it yet. On the one hand, I don't want continually sick birds, nor do I want sick birds every time I introduce new ones. Never mind worrying about passively spreading something to other flocks. However, if it is a strain not-unlike chickenpox is in humans where once you have it, you gain an immunity but it remains passive in your body, subdued by your immune system, that seems like something I wouldn't want to cull the whole flock over. And I am keeping them on pasture so they would likely be exposed to it again if is something they picked up here. So.. undecided. SO far, like I said, they all exhibit healthy behaviors and energy from all my observations and those of my far more experienced friend with a Vet Med degree and Vet experience. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst just in case.

There ya go. I've also read that it can be everywhere, as in most flocks.

I have one that showed some symptoms a few weeks ago, foamy eye for 1 day and swollen face on one side but was gone in 2-3 days with no treatment and now she seems fine.

 

[speckledhen]

I've heard about and read about at least a couple of those. Not sure what to make of it yet. On the one hand, I don't want continually sick birds, nor do I want sick birds every time I introduce new ones. Never mind worrying about passively spreading something to other flocks. However, if it is a strain not-unlike chickenpox is in humans where once you have it, you gain an immunity but it remains passive in your body, subdued by your immune system, that seems like something I wouldn't want to cull the whole flock over. And I am keeping them on pasture so they would likely be exposed to it again if is something they picked up here. So.. undecided. SO far, like I said, they all exhibit healthy behaviors and energy from all my observations and those of my far more experienced friend with a Vet Med degree and Vet experience. Hoping for the best and preparing for the worst just in case.

There is really nothing like that in chickens other than fowl pox carried by mosquitoes. That one runs through the flock and then, it's over, they're immune. I can't remember about Infectious Bronchitis, but if I recall, they are only carriers for about six months or so after infection with that one. Most chicken viruses are herpes type viruses which leave them carriers, unlike human chicken pox, and they can pass it on to other birds throughout their lives.

The ONLY way you know what is going on is to have one symptomatic bird tested. There are too many respiratory diseases that mimic each other to diagnose over the web. They could be carriers of mycoplasmosis or maybe not, but no way to tell unless you have testing done. The state vet can do that, but the way they do it and the cost depends on your state. In Georgia, we get free diagnostic necropsies, but other states charge. My friend in KY sends hers to the University of KY and they charge only $40 for a very thorough necropsy (her last one was 5 pages long, I swear they even tested for West Nile-her own vet rolled his eyes at that one, lol).