Chicken boarders

[chick]

Hi

 

My Nera (Roxy) arrived only two days ago (along with three other girls) and she's just beautiful but today she seems to be sneezing quite a lot, shaking her head and opening her beak really wide as if trying to sing (!). I'm really worried that she's not well.

 

They are in a walk in run with hardwood chips on the ground and a wooden coop that is brand new. feeding layers pellets & lots of water. she's eating well.

 

Please can you help me or do I need a vet?

[legend21]

chick I can offer any help but one of mine is doing this also, so will watch the space and see what the experts say

[..lay a little egg for me]

Our chooks all went down with a cold a few days after arriving. I think that the stress of moving house makes them vulnerable to getting a cold (like us really). Try adding a tonic to the water. Many people on the forum swear by Citricidal and garlic powder. I used poultry tonic. After about a week all but one was better, but the last one took quite a bit longer to get over it. If they are eating and drinking well and their chests sound clear, I would not worry just yet. However, if one gets a rattly chest it may be worth considering a vet visit.

[Budgies]

Whilst it could be that she's unwell in some way, my hens used to do this if they'd accidentally swallowed a feather whilst preening. It seemed to get stuck in their throats and they'd sneeze and stretch their necks and gape.

 

She may also have scratched her throat with somethings sharp, which is causing her discomfort.

 

Do you know whether they had been wormed prior to you having them? There is a worm called gape worm which makes the chicken do this too, but it is fairly rare and I think it's unlikely that she has it. However, if you know they've not been wormed, I'd suggest worming them with Flubenvet if she continues to gape.

 

Give her some chopped grape or similar, and see whether it clears whatever's bothering her.