josieadc Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Hello. I was wondering if someone could please give me some advice. We've had our chickens for 10 days now and they seem to be absolutely fine - as far as I can tell.. Apart from Ginger - (our Ginger Nut Ranger), she seems to have a permanently dirty beak, its dirty up at the top of the beak, and I'm not sure if she might have a cold, and perhaps it's a bit of a runny nose, do chickens get runny noses?? For the first time today I thought she might sound a bit chesty, but I'm not sure if I'm imagining that because of the dirty beak.. Any advice would be very welcome. Oh, and big celebrations today, we got our first egg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 They can get dirty beaks from pecking about in the grass/mud etc, but normally scratch it off, or it cleans itself when they drink. You could get a damp cloth and just wipe if off if its just dirt. If its a cold I know there are a few things you can add to their water etc, but I haven't had one with a cold so don't know what they are - sorry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia W Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 If she has a rattly chest you will need to take her to the vets for some antibiotics, I think Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Give her beak a wipe like lwescott suggested, then keep an eye on her. If the beak gets mucky again without her digging in the mud, she's probably got a runny nose. If she has got rattly breath, I would definitely take her to the vet. Some respiratory infections can lead to other problems later on (for example Infectious Bronchitis can affect their egg laying equipment in time as it lodges in their ovary). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 7, 2009 Share Posted May 7, 2009 Citricidal is useful for the sniffles. It is available in the Omlet shop. Use it sparingly though, as it is very bitter and they don't care for the taste. I find it works well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
josieadc Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 Many thanks for all your replies. I think I'm just being a bit of a worrier, and it was just a dirty beak after all, as it's mostly clean today, and there are no chesty noises coming from her chest, but I'll keep an eye on it. Thanks again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
