Chick sneezing constantly! What should I do?

[Zachary Lauritsen]

I have three 2 1/2 week old chicks and they sneeze every 2 to 3 seconds. The sneezing is non stop and started about 3 days ago. Other than the sneezing their is no discharge and no watery eyes but it is an abnormal amount of sneezing. Im a new chicken owner and I've done my research but have no come across something like this. Im getting worried and any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Did the chicks come from a hatchery? Many times sneezing can be due to dust in the feed or from the bedding. Mold in bedding from spilled water and feed can also cause sneezing and respiratory symptoms. Infectious bronchitis is a virus that causes frequent sneezing, watery eyes, and is the most common respiratory disease. It seems a bit early for them to have bronchitis or other diseases, such as mycoplasma (MG,) since those come from being exposed by a carrier bird, and MG can also be passed through hatching eggs to chicks. Usually MG and other respiratory diseases do not affect baby chicks until they are 2 or 3 weeks old. However brooder pneumonia (asperpergillosis) from mold in the brooder can happen very early in chicks. Make sure that your brooder has good overhead air circulation, no mold, and prevent dust.

 

[Zachary Lauritsen]

Thank you for responding! The chicks came from My Pet Chicken. Would the mold cause excessive sneezing?

 

[Eggcessive]

I would think that you may be dealing more with dust in feed or bedding. Chicks with brooder pneumonia tend to gasp, breathe very rapidly, chirp, and are very weak. Here is a video about brooder pneumonia: