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

[essexgirl]

Hi everyone,

 

Have just collected two chickens today, they are both settling into their Eglu, one of them is very dominant and keeps chasing the other into the nestbox which I understand is quite normal, although I feel very sorry for the bullied one!

 

They both looked healthy when we chose them but since getting them home, they both seem to be sneezing and shaking their heads. They also have a bit of discharge from their beaks. They were not in the same henhouse at the place we got them from so it seems a bit odd that they would both have colds? Could it be the straw in the box they were in on the way home was dusty, we got it from a pet shop.

 

Any advice would be very welcome,

 

Thanks very much

 

Melanie

[Lesley]

Was it straw or hay? - straw is OK for bedding but hay can cause problems with impacted crop if the hens eat it and it may also contain spores which could be making them sneeze.

 

I would change their bedding if you have hay - try Aubiose if you can find it. Observe them and see if the sneezing stops - if you are still worried then contact the person who sold them to you or take them to a vet.