Sneezing

[Fatimetta]

Hello!

I brought four hens home about a month ago and have noticed that they are sneezing. There is no mucus, and nothing comes out when they sneeze. They had lice when I got them, but I treated with Elector PSP and got rid of it now. Otherwise, they seem healthy - eating, drinking normally.

I tried treating with VetRX in their water, but other than a little less sneezing, it hasn't helped.

What else can I do to treat them? My other birds went in the pen of the new ones, so now I'm worried they will get it too. I'm also getting chicks in February and want to have this cleared up before then.

Thank you!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I brought four hens home about a month ago and have noticed that they are sneezing. There is no mucus, and nothing comes out when they sneeze. They had lice when I got them, but I treated with Elector PSP and got rid of it now. Otherwise, they seem healthy - eating, drinking normally.

How often do they sneeze?

If there is no mucous, no other symptoms but sneezing, then I would not recommend any type of treatment. Without testing, it would be hard to know the cause, but just sneezing, it may be respiratory illness like Infectious Bronchitis. This is a virus so it would have to run it's course.

Think about the environment they are in too - ventilation (is there plenty of fresh air coming in), excess droppings/ammonia (this can be a source of sneezing), bedding (any moldy hay or straw) and do you only notice sneezing when the birds are doing something like eating/drinking or dust bathing?

 

[Fatimetta]

How often do they sneeze?

If there is no mucous, no other symptoms but sneezing, then I would not recommend any type of treatment. Without testing, it would be hard to know the cause, but just sneezing, it may be respiratory illness like Infectious Bronchitis. This is a virus so it would have to run it's course.

Think about the environment they are in too - ventilation (is there plenty of fresh air coming in), excess droppings/ammonia (this can be a source of sneezing), bedding (any moldy hay or straw) and do you only notice sneezing when the birds are doing something like eating/drinking or dust bathing?

I've been working hard to keep their bedding dry, although sometimes when I clean out the coop it is moist. They are outside most of the day, so nothing with ventilation I can think of. I do notice they mostly sneeze when they are drinking water.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I've been working hard to keep their bedding dry, although sometimes when I clean out the coop it is moist. They are outside most of the day, so nothing with ventilation I can think of. I do notice they mostly sneeze when they are drinking water.

Take a bit of time and really watch and listen - see if they are getting water in their nostrils.
Do they sneeze more if you have added anything to the water like the VetRx, ACV or something else.

The hens are fairly "new" to you. Did they have a different type of water station where they came from? Do they have trimmed beaks?

All kinds of things to consider.

I'm hoping that it's just water in the nostrils and you aren't dealing with respiratory disease.

You also mention that the bedding in the coop is moist - is all of it or just under the roosting bars? Coops often get closed up in winter and have poor ventilation this does lead to moisture buildup and can also contribute to respiratory symptoms. Ventilation needs to be up high (at the peaks, along the rafters, etc., this way ammonia and some moisture goes up and out. You want plenty of air flow in a coop in winter, but want to avoid direct drafts/wind from blowing on the birds.

 

[Fatimetta]

Take a bit of time and really watch and listen - see if they are getting water in their nostrils.
Do they sneeze more if you have added anything to the water like the VetRx, ACV or something else.

The hens are fairly "new" to you. Did they have a different type of water station where they came from? Do they have trimmed beaks?

All kinds of things to consider.

I'm hoping that it's just water in the nostrils and you aren't dealing with respiratory disease.

You also mention that the bedding in the coop is moist - is all of it or just under the roosting bars? Coops often get closed up in winter and have poor ventilation this does lead to moisture buildup and can also contribute to respiratory symptoms. Ventilation needs to be up high (at the peaks, along the rafters, etc., this way ammonia and some moisture goes up and out. You want plenty of air flow in a coop in winter, but want to avoid direct drafts/wind from blowing on the birds.

It seems after I put vetRx in the water that they sneeze less. I’ll watch them tomorrow and see when exactly they are sneezing. I’ll try to upload a video here of one of them sneezing after she came out to drink. When I cleaned the coop out, they had been shut up inside so maybe that’s why it was moist. Now I built a fence so they can come out.

 

[Fatimetta]

Here’s a link to her sneezing:

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It seems after I put vetRx in the water that they sneeze less. I’ll watch them tomorrow and see when exactly they are sneezing. I’ll try to upload a video here of one of them sneezing after she came out to drink. When I cleaned the coop out, they had been shut up inside so maybe that’s why it was moist. Now I built a fence so they can come out.

If they sneeze a little less with the VetRx, then you may want to try misting them with it per the instructions in your package.
Another option that some folks do is use Oxine, they mist it over their birds.
With just sneezing and no other symptoms (no mucous, swelling of the face, etc.) then I would not treat with antibiotics.
https://www.shagbarkbantams.com/the-many-uses-of-oxine-ah-animal-health/

 

[Eggcessive]

If you spend time and the same hens sneeze every few minutes thoughout the day, that is a sign of infectious bronchitis (IB) virus. Sometimes it requires testing or time to tell if it is dust or feed getting into their nostrils or some virus.

IB is something I had in my flock a few years ago. Eventually it spread to half my chickens, and it lasted about a month. When the sick hens went back with the others, probably 100% eventually got it. Once they recover, they do not get it again, but can be carriers for 5 months up to a year. I eventually stopped the spread by waiting over a year to hatch or add new chicks. Here is a good link about the common chicken diseases that might be handy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/correct-dosage.1345064/