AndyRoo Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Hello I noticed the bluebelle hen is sneezing a little, is that normal? I picked her up to check and she has no discharge from either nose nor eyes. Do hens just do that occasionally? She seems completely fine: happily 'running' around and eating and drinking plenty. None of the others seem to be doing it so far as I can tell. Could it be from stress? Is there anything I can do to help them out? Thanks, Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Keep a close eye on her. If it continues take her back to the breeder. She shouldn't be sneezing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 Oh, ok. Well trust me to pick up the one defective hen in the group! I've notices she seems to do it after drinking water, so I was wondering if maybe it was going up her nose a little and she was clearing her beak, as it were... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 It's not your fault. If she has Myco, she got it before you got her. Fingers crossed she doesn't pass it on to the others. Don't panic though, see how she is in the morning Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted October 27, 2016 Share Posted October 27, 2016 Welcome to the worrying world of chickens! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted October 27, 2016 Author Share Posted October 27, 2016 If she's still doing it on Saturday, I'll give the place a ring and see if they will take her back. If I have to do that, I might try and bring back a couple of replacements so that they hopefully don't bully just a single new one. I'm finding it hard to know what to believe, I've read as many posts in various places saying it is a bad thing as I have posts saying that they do that from time to time and it's perfectly normal! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted October 28, 2016 Share Posted October 28, 2016 Presumably all these hybrids have been immunised Andy, so they will be carrying IB, ILT and Myco perhaps. Worth checking with the supplier and getting the immunisation programme that they applied. It's quite normal for these viruses to flare up with the stress of the move and new surroundings, hence the minor sneezing. But it should stop after a week or so as they settle in. Sometimes the virus flares up and overtakes them completely though, which seems to be happening more and more of late. It is usually fruitless attempting to treat them in that case and you would need replacements from the same supplier. Make sure there is no dust in the coop and plenty of ventilation, as that can lead to respiratory irritation which will initially also cause sneezing. They do flap their wings in there and will raise any dust present. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyRoo Posted October 28, 2016 Author Share Posted October 28, 2016 Presumably all these hybrids have been immunised Andy, so they will be carrying IB, ILT and Myco perhaps. Worth checking with the supplier and getting the immunisation programme that they applied. It's quite normal for these viruses to flare up with the stress of the move and new surroundings, hence the minor sneezing. But it should stop after a week or so as they settle in. Sometimes the virus flares up and overtakes them completely though, which seems to be happening more and more of late. It is usually fruitless attempting to treat them in that case and you would need replacements from the same supplier. Make sure there is no dust in the coop and plenty of ventilation, as that can lead to respiratory irritation which will initially also cause sneezing. They do flap their wings in there and will raise any dust present. Okay, thank you. She seems to be sneezing still, but doesn't appear to have any other symptoms: I've checked her again today for any snot or dirt around the mouth or eyes, and she seems perfectly fine. She's out there doing her "get away from me" noise when I approach (she's clearly not the most naturally friendly of the bunch). She's even out there teaching the rest of them how to have dirt baths! I think I'd be more concerned if she seemed more lethargic, but she seems to be ok. The only other thing that she should be doing which she isn't is laying eggs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GQsm Posted November 4, 2016 Share Posted November 4, 2016 We have had our chickens since July (feels like forever). For months they all used to do the odd sneeze at any time of day but I don't seem to notice it now. At one point a hen went very lethargic and got bad sneezes I considered different to their usual, which I brought up on the forum at the time. Antibiotics sorted her out within a day or two, but the others and the sick chicken still carried on with the odd sneeze even though they were otherwise totally fine. I never worked out what it was, guesses include pollen, wood dust from the new wood chips, dust from their layers pellets or something to do with their immunisations as mentioned. Either way they were always fine and still are (except one lost to Peritonitis). They all do the odd sneeze now but only when we are feeding them corn at treat time, I think this is the odd bit of dust in the corn and the speed in which they try to wolf it down. Sometimes corn will fly out when they do it! Although these seem like sneezes to me, it occurred it might be their version of a cough or throat clearing equivalent. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
