Sneezy chicken

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Chickens now nicely settled in after nearly four weeks and very happy, healthy and all laying well. However, I have one chook who is constantly sneezing, no other problems, looks healthy, good colour on the bits that are supposed to have colour and very chirpy. Should I worry or do some chickens just sneeze a lot?

They are down in the woods at the end of our garden (although they've obviously dug their run down to dirt now) and are let out in the rest of the garden once or twice a week. Hen house is bedded with wood shavings (dust extracted ones). So can't think of anything that may be causing it. Any ideas?

Maybe she's just allergic to chickens then

It looks like 1 of ours is coming down with a summer cold, she is chirpy in herself. You can add grapefruit seed extract to their water.

Is that the citricidal stuff? My mother uses that when she's coming down with a cold

We think she's not layed for a few days now too. But still looks perfectly healthy and happy.

Anything more than the occasional sneezing is cause for concern - it is likely to be a respiratory problem, and the fact that chickens are very good at hiding signs of illness means that they only start to look ill (droopy, listless, not eating / drinking etc.) when there's something seriously wrong.

Have you got a copy of Gail Damerow's Chicken Health Handbook? I've found that it's an invaluable resource in cases like this. Unfortunately my copy is in the wrong city, else I'd have a look for you! The list of potential ailments is likely to be long, however, and all that a vet (if you're going, which you must if any of the others start sneezing, and probably should anyway, then go to a farm vet, not a small animal vet) is likely to do is give a broad-spectrum antibiotic like Baytril.

Thank you - will look for that book. The others all seem fine so unlikely to be catching as she's been sneezing for a while now and would expect others to show signs if it was. She's laid again today which is good.

I have a 'tame' vet (married to DH's friend) so may chat to her and see what she suggests.

It's probably mycoplasma which is treatable. It will spread eventually, so you really need to have her treated.