Sneezing?

[SemiSweet2391]

I observed my EE, Sable, doing this tonight. This isn’t normal, right? What could be wrong? How can I help her feel better?

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, that is a chicken sneezing. Does she have any mucus from her beak or nostrils? Do you see any watery eye or bubbles/foam in one or both eyes? Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent weeks? Does she sneeze mostly when she is eating or certain times of the day?

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Yes, that is a chicken sneezing. Does she have any mucus from her beak or nostrils? Do you see any watery eye or bubbles/foam in one or both eyes? Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent weeks? Does she sneeze mostly when she is eating or certain times of the day?

Her nostrils seemed dry to me and I didn’t notice bubbles in her eyes. I’ll double check again tomorrow. No new birds, and I’ve noticed she sneezes when she eats. I thought it was weird but now that it’s happened again I want to make sure she’s not sick

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Yes, that is a chicken sneezing. Does she have any mucus from her beak or nostrils? Do you see any watery eye or bubbles/foam in one or both eyes? Have you added any new birds to the flock in recent weeks? Does she sneeze mostly when she is eating or certain times of the day?

Here is a closer look at her face. No sneezing while she was dustbathing. Do chickens sneeze even if they are healthy?

 

[FarmerGirl101]

Sneezing is perfectly normal in healthy chickens, they will do it maybe once or twice but it isn't too often. It's also higher pitched than this.

When you say she sneezes when she eats, it is exclusively or mostly when she eats? Or is it that she sneezes when she eats, equally as much or less than her sneezing when she isn't eating?

Not sure if I'm reading it wrong but it almost looks like she is adjusting her crop towards the end of her sneeze. Is her crop emptying at all? You can check this by feeling her crop right before bed and in the morning before she eats. It should be full at night and empty in the morning.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Sneezing is perfectly normal in healthy chickens, they will do it maybe once or twice but it isn't too often. It's also higher pitched than this.

When you say she sneezes when she eats, it is exclusively or mostly when she eats? Or is it that she sneezes when she eats, equally as much or less than her sneezing when she isn't eating?

Not sure if I'm reading it wrong but it almost looks like she is adjusting her crop towards the end of her sneeze. Is her crop emptying at all? You can check this by feeling her crop right before bed and in the morning before she eats. It should be full at night and empty in the morning.

I mean that I’ve only observed her sneezing when she eats. It’s not every time (she was eating this morning and no sneezing).

I will check tomorrow morning to see if her crop empties but I palpated it last night and she had food in there, although I will admit I’m not so experienced with chickens that I can recognize crop issues just by palpating.

Based on the video do you think she’s sick? Even if you don’t know with what?

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks pretty healthy. Chickens sneeze when something irritates the nostrils, just as we do if there is dust, pollen, mold, etc that make us sneeze. Spend some time with her. If she only sneezes during eating, that can be normal. Usually a sick chicken is lethargic or sleepy, and has other symptoms. Chickens will also adjust their crop occasionally, but if it happens over and over, she could be having trouble passing something she ate. If her crop is empty and flat first thing in the am before she eats, there is not a problem.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

She looks pretty healthy. Chickens sneeze when something irritates the nostrils, just as we do if there is dust, pollen, mold, etc that make us sneeze. Spend some time with her. If she only sneezes during eating, that can be normal. Usually a sick chicken is lethargic or sleepy, and has other symptoms. Chickens will also adjust their crop occasionally, but if it happens over and over, she could be having trouble passing something she ate. If her crop is empty and flat first thing in the am before she eats, there is not a problem.

Ok, I’ll double check her crop in the morning. She is acting normal and laying eggs etc. I just thought her sneezes were very violent!! Thanks for your help, Eggcessive!

 

[Eggcessive]

You’re welcome