[CrispinCottage]

Good Morning all,

I have had a little look through the forum but I couldn't find the answer I was hoping for!

I have 3 hens and one of them, my Rhode Island Red, seems to be a little wheezy? As soon as I let them out in the mornings, she seems to sneeze?!

I thoroughly clear out the hen house every week and she seems to be in great health. They all eat well, drink well and spend their days happily scurrying around. I've done a littl Google search but I can't seem to make head or tail of it.

I am happy to take her to the vets if necessary but wondered if any of the knowledgeable folk on her could perhaps offer any tips or advice to try first!

Thanks in advance everyone

[Eve]

If she only sneezes when she comes out of her coop then it's probably just the bedding.


No need for a vet unless she sneezes throughout the day, starts having watery eyes or swollen sinuses or anything like that, in which case google mycoplasma and check if the symptoms correspond.


I would observe her for a day or so (a good excuse to sit down and do nothing for a while  ).

[chrismahon]

Sounds like the bedding to me as well. Might be a little dusty and some hens will react to it. The worst affected will be from a dusty background as it has a permanent effect on irritating the airways. We've got two with that problem- they arrived with dust in their nostrils so we expected the worst and were not disappointed. They sneeze when they come out in the morning and haven't any bedding at all, just newspaper.

[Kimbo]

I also have a youngster who does that. She sort of does a snort/sneeze for the first hour or so in the morning but is otherwise very healthy and growing very well. I also think she has become sensitive to her bedding. Ive just changed her to easichick bedding so I shall see if that helps but Im expecting that it wont

[Marches Farmer]

How well ventilated is the henhouse?  I think many commercial designs are under ventilated and we've often cut a 23cm square from the top of opposite side walls and covered it with wire mesh to improve air flow.