does my chicken have a cold?

[cassiopia610]

hi-

my ameraucana is 19 weeks old and has wet and dirty matted feathers under her eyes and under her chin. i'm new to keeping chickens and don't know what to do. any suggestions?

since i'm new here i can't post a photo, but here's a link to my blog with photos of her: http://fourfourten.blogspot.com/2011/08/does-beaker-have-cold.html

i'd really love any suggestions anyone has.

she has had an occasional runny nose since the day i got her, seven weeks ago. we have two other hens and they don't have any of her symptoms, so i don't think it is contagious.

thank you!

 

[geekgurl]

Hi there,
From what I've read, chickens don't get colds like we do, but they can get respiratory infections that can be quiet nasty. Any other symptoms? My Ameraucana gets water on her muff and beard and it looks similar to your pics. Maybe that's all it is? Is she sneezing? If you are sure there is nasal discharge, you'll want to quarantine her from the other two so they don't get infected, too. However, if she's been sneezing and had a runny nose since day one 7-weeks-ago, then it's probably safe to say they all might have what she has but the others aren't showing symptoms. In any case, quarantine is normally prescribed for the sick chicken.

You might try a vitamin/electrolyte mix in their water to help her fight any infection she's battling.

 

[cassiopia610]

thank you so much for your response!

i'll give her some vitamins. if she gets better then i'll know she was sick and if she doesn't then i'll assume it's just an ameracauna thing...

 

[ChickDaze]

i noticed one of my chicks sneezing. she just had dirt up her nose. maybe that's it?