chicken sneezing

[cheitz20]

I have a flock of 6 chickens under a year old and I noticed that one of them has been sneezing often for the past week or so. The weather has been weird in CT lately, so I was thinking the temperature changes could be impacting her respiratory system? (for example, yesterday it was in the high thirties and sunny, relatively warm for January, and today it's snowing). I just wanted to come on here and make sure it wasn't anything too serious, it's just this one chicken so it doesn't seem to be contagious. Her appetite and energy also seem to be fine, she seems to be separating herself from the flock but she's also lower in their hierarchy and has been doing that for a few weeks now. Any ideas what this could be? Thanks!

 

[Yardmom]

What are you using for bedding? Any recent changes? Is there anything else in the environment that could irritate her?
Any discharge or bubbly eyes?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a flock of 6 chickens under a year old and I noticed that one of them has been sneezing often for the past week or so. The weather has been weird in CT lately, so I was thinking the temperature changes could be impacting her respiratory system? (for example, yesterday it was in the high thirties and sunny, relatively warm for January, and today it's snowing). I just wanted to come on here and make sure it wasn't anything too serious, it's just this one chicken so it doesn't seem to be contagious. Her appetite and energy also seem to be fine, she seems to be separating herself from the flock but she's also lower in their hierarchy and has been doing that for a few weeks now. Any ideas what this could be? Thanks!

Do you notice the sneezing mostly when she's been eat/drinking?

Check her crop, make sure it's emptying. See that her nostrils are clear of debris and look inside her beak for any signs of canker or lesions.

Sometimes chickens sneeze, just because they get something in the airway or nostrils, but if she's isolating herself, you will want to observe her more and check her over really well.

 

[cheitz20]

What are you using for bedding? Any recent changes? Is there anything else in the environment that could irritate her?
Any discharge or bubbly eyes?

We use pine shavings for the main part of their coop (which they don't go in often, usually just at night), and then hemp bedding in their nesting boxes, which hasn't changed at all. The only thing I can think of that changed recently was the weather. Her eyes and nostrils looked fine when I checked her.

 

[cheitz20]

Do you notice the sneezing mostly when she's been eat/drinking?

Check her crop, make sure it's emptying. See that her nostrils are clear of debris and look inside her beak for any signs of canker or lesions.

Sometimes chickens sneeze, just because they get something in the airway or nostrils, but if she's isolating herself, you will want to observe her more and check her over really well.

I haven't really noticed a pattern in her sneezing, but would her sneezing when eating/drinking suggest something?
When I checked her crop it was after she had eaten so it wasn't empty, but from what I could tell it felt normal. Her nostrils and eyes were both clear, although she didn't really let me get a good like at the inside of her beak.
I did feel her wattle and it felt warm which I know is a good indicator of health. Her comb is also mostly red but has a bit of white speckles, I don't know if that's normal because I've seen a lot of other chickens with that, and she's had that coloring for a while.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I haven't really noticed a pattern in her sneezing, but would her sneezing when eating/drinking suggest something?
When I checked her crop it was after she had eaten so it wasn't empty, but from what I could tell it felt normal. Her nostrils and eyes were both clear, although she didn't really let me get a good like at the inside of her beak.
I did feel her wattle and it felt warm which I know is a good indicator of health. Her comb is also mostly red but has a bit of white speckles, I don't know if that's normal because I've seen a lot of other chickens with that, and she's had that coloring for a while.

Yes, sneezing when eating/drinking would suggest she's getting food/water in her nostrils.

The weather has changed, have you closed up a lot more ventilation or does the coop have a heavy odor of ammonia with poop?

We use pine shavings for the main part of their coop (which they don't go in often, usually just at night), and then hemp bedding in their nesting boxes, which hasn't changed at all. The only thing I can think of that changed recently was the weather. Her eyes and nostrils looked fine when I checked her.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Hi! I have a hen doing basically the same thing, I notice that it really does not matter when, she just sneezes. Have you also noticed that she shakes her head when she sneezes? I have noticed that as well. @Wyorp Rock , do you know what this means when they shake there head and sneeze? Weather has also been wild here in NJ, so maybe that is the cause.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi! I have a hen doing basically the same thing, I notice that it really does not matter when, she just sneezes. Have you also noticed that she shakes her head when she sneezes? I have noticed that as well. @Wyorp Rock , do you know what this means when they shake there head and sneeze? Weather has also been wild here in NJ, so maybe that is the cause.

Some can shake the head when sneezing.

If it's not too often and not accompanied by other symptoms like facial swelling, bubbles or pus in the eyes, wheezing, mucous, etc. then monitor for now.

 

[Themellowyellows]

Some can shake the head when sneezing.

If it's not too often and not accompanied by other symptoms like facial swelling, bubbles or pus in the eyes, wheezing, mucous, etc. then monitor for now.

Oh ok!

 

[Bushastead]

Mine has been sneezing for about two weeks with no other symptoms or loss in activity or eating. She has sneezing fits with a few in a row. After, she will breath with her mouth open for a bit and then run off breathing normally.