sneezing

[steve]

one of my chickens has been sneezing for about 2 months. She has clear eyes and beak. No other problems, otherwise seems healthy.
have given 2 complete courses of treatment via drinking water - "mintamix" - "chicken Vet" brand. It's made no difference. Should my next step be a visit to the vet?

 

[dinosaw]

Sneezing for 2 months with no other problems points towards some kind of allergy or sensitive nares have seen quite a few people over the years who's chickens seemed to have suffered from some kind of hay fever, alternatively there could be something tiny lodged in the nasal passage causing irritation. The other cause is over dusty conditions but I presume your other chickens are ok and not sneezing at all in which case it wouldn't be this. A visit to the vet is your call really, if you think the bird is suffering then they may be able to help if they have experience of chickens but just as likely not if the collective experience on here is anything to go by.

 

[chrismahon]

We bought two Orpingtons last year Steve. Unfortunately we were desperate and didn't get choices. Whilst they are lovely natured girls they arrived and started sneezing and were quarantined for two months before we decided it was nothing infectious. Like yours they had clear eyes and no nasal discharge. The best clue we had was the dust in their nostrils when we got them. Dust causes inflammation and irritation in the airways. We have made sure the coop is always dust free with plenty of fresh air ventilation and their condition has improved considerably, but they still sneeze a bit a year on. However they did start again badly with the tree pollen. Worth putting effort into boosting their immune system if they are allergic to pollen. To that effect we gave ours 0.5mL of Cod Liver Oil once and then put an Avipro Avian dose into wet mash (made from crushed pellets). We have had many chickens with pollen allergies, so it's not unusual. Worst causes are fir trees and Silver Birch apparently. Good point by Dinosaw about something lodged in the nasal passage. Another reason we've had sneezing is dust in the feed pellets and now sieve all the feeders regularly to remove it-some chickens seem more prone to sneezing than others anyway.

 

[chickenfan]

Gosh, they are just like us in so many ways aren't they, getting hay fever too.