4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[McChook]

Hi all

 

A friend of mine who, like me, has only had chickens for a week or so, has a pretty little blue hen who has a very 'rattly' chest and sounds like she needs a really good cough.

 

She's eating and drinking really well, and her poo seems quite normal, but she sneezes a lot - with bubbles coming from her nose. One of his other hens has started sneezing too, but without the rattling sound. He's giving them some poultry spice and they have improved slightly.

 

All the signs seem to point to them just having a cold - but is a cold serious with chickens? Is there anything else he can do?

 

Could you 'old hands' give us newbies some advice please?

 

Many thanks

[WitchHazel]

One of my girls was rattly in her first week and I took her off to the Vets. He gave me some Baytril, and I had to dose all three girls..and then not eat the eggs for 6 weeks.

 

Now I'm slighlty more experienced, I think I would have started by putting some Citricidal in the drinking water. You can buy this from the Omlet shop and lots of places online. Then I would only have gone to the Vet if it hadn't improved.

 

With hindsight, I think that my girl was just adjusting to the brand new walk in run, fresh Aubiose etc etc etc.

 

 

Having said that, some really experienced chicken keepers will be along soon...

[The Dogmother]

If their chest is rattly then it is probably more than jst a cold. I'd get the chook to the vet as it may have achest infection like Mycoplasma. Try holding the chook to your ear and see if you can hear it's chest, is ti rattling, or do they just have a blocked up nose?

[Egluntyne]

Why not try some Citricidal? I find it very good for snotty noses.

 

As Claret says though, a vet's opinion might be a good idea if there are breathing probs.

[McChook]

It's quite odd really, although her chest is really rattly, she doesn't seem at all unwell - she still legs it when you try and pick her up and always puts up a good fight (not yet as tame as she could be) and is first in line for treats. I've passed all your kind advice on - thank you all!

[The Dogmother]

Hens are very good at masking any signs of illness. I'd get her to the vet to be safe.

[chili pepper]

When I did a rescue with the BHWT a couple of weekends ago when it was really hot, about 30 of the 600 or so girls had very rattly chests. We separated them from the hens to rehome thinking they had an infection. I also made sure when I got home that I didn't go anywhere near my girls until after a change of clothes and a shower. It turns out after our coordinator spoke to Jane the founder of BHWT that it can be a response to stress. You say its only been a week, so maybe still a bit stressed.

 

All chickens are fine now and no medication was needed.

 

Saying that though, I think I would err on the side of caution and get it investigated, but I just thought it may be of interest to others on here to know.

 

PS : Greyhounds are great too arn't they McChook

[McChook]

 

PS : Greyhounds are great too arn't they McChook

 

They're adorable aren't they? Not necessarily the best dogs to have around chickens though - they're far too interested in them! 'Hmm, lunch' they seem to say each time they walk past them!

 

Thanks for the info about the BHWT hens, chili pepper, that could be the problem, I don't know. I think the little blue hen's going to the vets tomorrow, so fingers crossed she's going to be ok.

 

Thanks to all of you who have responded!