Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Hi, Mr Rhode Island Red here, I usually lock up my hens at 9 pm every night regardless of what time of year it is. I then go back outside with a torch about an hour and a half later to check on the girls. I have noticed in the past week or so that the girls seem to sneeze a lot at night. Is this normal or am I doing something wrong. In the house (which is about 2 metres X2 x2 There are three smallish round mesh windows that are never closed. And there is a bigger mesh window that I close at night. I keep 8 hens in this house and they have plenty of room. All answers and replys welcome Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 What do you use as bedding material? Perhaps they are allergic to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 What do you use as bedding material? Perhaps they are allergic to it. Agreed! I had to temporarily use shredded paper (the soft stuff used as rodent nest material) and this caused my girls to sneeze as little flakes of it kept getting up their noses!! I realised the cause when Toph did an enormous sneeze and this white lump short across the garden...and I checked to see what it was!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 22, 2010 Author Share Posted July 22, 2010 I use wood flakes, it has no smell. However it may be slightly dusty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 That could be it. Try Aubiose. It is excellent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heidi-Hi Posted July 22, 2010 Share Posted July 22, 2010 Aubiose's the best! And cheap if you can get it from a horsey place Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted July 23, 2010 Author Share Posted July 23, 2010 thanks for your help! the girls have stopped sneezing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 , we'll put the bill in the post Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tutti Frutti Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 Aubiose makes ME sneeze but the girls love it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 Oh no! They've started sneezing again. During the day as well. Do chickens just get common colds or am I dealing with a respiratory disease. One of my hens, Butternut has discharge coming from her nose. If it is something serious could someone please recommend an antibiotic. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertrum Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Ours sneeze quite a bit and they both had runny noses when they arrived. One got so bad that she was shaking her head to clear the mucus. Shook so hard one day she fell off her legs. We were in a right panic about it for several days, especially when someone mentioned mycoplasma! However, hens do get colds, and our got better very quickly. We put garlic in the water (just peel one clove and put it in whole) which helps. They still get wet noses sometimes. Unless you see other symptoms, I would not panic yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 I use Respite at the first sign of any sneezes and it generally nips any further infection in the bud. Be warned though, it absolutely stinks of garlic (and I love garlic!). If you google "poultry respite", you'll get details of lots of online suppliers. However, if it doesn't sort it out in a couple of days, it does suggest that the infection needs antibiotics which only the vet can prescribe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mollie333 Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 We took Betty, , to the vets, the bill was huge, she gave us some Baytril (you can buy it off the internet) and just said .. right.. yes.. right.. yes..she has a cold. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Baytril (you can buy it off the internet) Only with a vet's prescription though, so you have to have the consultation first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted August 5, 2010 Share Posted August 5, 2010 Oh no! They've started sneezing again. During the day as well. Do chickens just get common colds or am I dealing with a respiratory disease. One of my hens, Butternut has discharge coming from her nose. If it is something serious could someone please recommend an antibiotic. Thanks They do get colds. I used Citricidal when one of my girls had the sniffles. A few drops in the water and it cleared up! https://www.omlet.co.uk/shop/shop.php?cat=Chicken+Keeping&sub=Health&product_id=207&product_name=Citricidal+45ML If it goes on for more than a few days or if you can hear her breathing has become rattly or laboured, get her to a vet straight away as it could be a respiratory infection and will need antibiotics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted August 5, 2010 Author Share Posted August 5, 2010 Thanks bertrum, I'll try the garlic method. Hopefully this will be the end of the sneezing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Rhode Island Red Posted August 13, 2010 Author Share Posted August 13, 2010 YES! The Garlic-in-water method has cleared up most of the girls noses However, I tried putting in the garlic whole first, but that had little effect. I find crushed garlic works a lot better. Thats the end of my problem Thanks to everybody who posted replies and suggestions Mr Rhode Island Red Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertrum Posted August 26, 2010 Share Posted August 26, 2010 Just a follow up on this. We found a product that is Apple Cider Vinegar with Garlic added. We have started using that instead of just garlic cloves. Seems to be just as effective and the vinegar has other benefits as well apparently. Even if it has no other benefits, it does make the water smell better than garlic on its own. http://www.flytesofancy.co.uk/chickenhouses/Apple_Cider_Vinegar_and_Garlic_1_litre.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
