Sneezing Chicken

[suzyq]

Hi - I noticed last night one of my chickens has developed a sneeze and a cough, when she sneezes she blows bubbles out of her nostrils? She seems ok in her self happy scratting around the garden, eating and drinking ok. She sounds very chesty when she coughs - any info will be a help thanks

[happychicks]

Hi

Sometimes hens do sneeze to clean the nasal passage, just as we humans do. Just make sure she isnt doing it constantly over any length of time, it could mean respiratory problems sometimes.
If she continues for more than what you think is acceptable, or she is having a lot of discharge she may need antibiotics but there is normally other signs too, like not eating and with you saying she is eating is may just be she is clearing her nasal passage.

Keep us informed.

Kindest regards as thanks for the post

Simon

[suzyq]

Hi Simon

Thanks for your reply - I have some more updates on my sneezing chicken. Watching her most of yesturday I noticed she also made funny coughing sounds which sounded quite congested, I have also noticed she opens her mouth like she is about to be sick, and her tail end is low - so any more advice to what I can do would be great. I have been adding a poultry tonic to the water, she is still eating and drinking. One last thing I have three other chickens who are all fine - do I need separate her from the rest?

I look forward to your reply thanks again regards

Sue.

[happychicks]

Hi Sue

I would seperate her for the time being. It may, like us, be a simple cold, but until we know for sure I would do it as a matter or precaution.

I would hate to say to you it sounds like a cold which they do suffer from BUT without seeing her I cannot be sure so air on the side of caution. Its very difficult with medical questions what to advice without seeing her. A little like a doctor diagnosing a patient without seeing them. It could be a few things, a common cold being one of them, is her crop ok? Is her bum clean? Is she reacting to something in the garden or cleaning of the coup? Do you use wood shavings, as some are prone to sneezing due to the dust? Its all a lot of questions Suzy that really I would love to give you an answer to but without seeing her and her surroundings would be difficult to diagnose.

Do seperate her though see if it settles down. My heart says cold, my head says be careful what I say as I may be wrong.

Sorry to be vague but its very difficult without being there.

Simon

[happychicks]

One further thing...........

I have just done a search on Google.co.uk and searched for sneezing hen. There is lots of info on there and it could be anything from a cold to RDS, Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Do some reading and see if any of the symptoms yours has relates in any way to others with the same or similar problems, you may find your answer. One lady had hers do it and then it stopped, it was a simple cold, the other lady, hers needed AntiBiotics. So you see without actually knowin her its best not to speculate. It maybe worth a trip to the vets if you are overly worried.

Simon

[Suzy Q]

Thank you for your comments, I will keep a close eye on her and see how she goes. I use straw in my coop with newspaper underneath, I do dust with lice/mite powder about once a month and clean the coop every week. Fresh water is put in daily along with fresh food.

So in time I hope she picks up - if not then I will pop her along to vets just in case!!

Thanks anway - Sue.

[angela]

???Was just reading about sneezing chicken...we have a new ex battery chicken who for the last 3 days has had some kind of congestion/snuffling sound like she has a cold. We could hear her snoring last night when we looked in the hen house as well. Is it normal for chickens to get colds/respiratory problems. Will she recover without medication? Should we be worried? The weather has gone from boiling hot to rainy and cold. I wonder if this could have affected her?