Sneezing

[dbjay417]

I've got 16 free range chickens right now. Some are turken some are turken cross ?? and a few chicks whose breed I've no clue about.

One of the Turken hens started sneezing yesterday. She doesn't appear to be sick, she is her usual self aside from the sneezing. We did have a bit of a storm system move through last week, so i'm thinking maybe just a cold or something from the rain. Should i quarentine her? Should i feed her meds? Both or none?

There is no visible discharge, I'm not sure if that matters though.

Here and her sister, as they are not as round and puffy or as big as the other Turkens get picked on a bit in close quarters so when they can they keep their distance from the main group. Also not sure if that matters. Thier fed corn twice a day from the ground, I dont use the same area twice in a row, their water is cleaned and replenished daily and I've not found any feces in it at any point. No other birds seem to be affected by the same or any other sickness so far.

Any insight into the matter would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Unless she's constantly sneezing, then I'd leave her alone. Sometimes they can just get something caught in their noses, just like us...You haven't lived until you get a piece of food sneezed into your face.

Is corn the only thing you're feeding them? That's like giving us chocolate all the time...it tastes good but doesn't give us anything that we need...jes sayin...

 

[dbjay417]

they get some very generic chicken feed, that doesn't have so much as word one reguarding its content, and they free range all day, they get under trees and kick up dead leaves and munch on worms, water bugs, and monster roaches(I live in Puerto Rico so the roaches are often as big as the chickens head.), I've also seen them munch on the occasional lizard or salamander as well. They like to pick at this one viney weed that grows in unkept areas where the grass does not grow as well. They also get their share of table scraps. I'm not sure how healthy it is for chickens to eat rice and beans, but they seem to dig it. Corn is just the bulk of the feed I give them.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Welcome!
Rice and beans are okay...they're omnivorous, so they'll eat practically anything...

 

[rooster-red]

You might try putting a little unfiltered apple cider vineger in their water, helps the immune system.

 

[speckledhen]

A few sneezes can mean anything, from dusty litter to getting feed up the nose to unfamiliar chemical smells irritating them. May be nothing, especially if there are no other symptoms. I have one particular hen who sneezes her head off every time she pigs out trying to eat all the feed before anyone else gets it from her, LOL.

 

[dbjay417]

a brief update:

Shes still sneezing but she's otherwise healthy. No droopy wings or hanging head. Feathers are brilliant as always, and no limping. Appetite is normal, and I saw her at the water dish a while ago. So its probably just some sinus irritation.