Have you ever heard a chicken sneeze? Neither had we until this week, but now Gerry has a cold and every time she sneezes she shoots herself backwards across the coop. It’s quite endearing. She’s wiping her nose on the grass.
Margot doesn’t like it at all. She’s keeping well away from her and yesterday evening kicked up a big noisy fuss in the hen house. We were in the human house at the time, and despite having the radio on we could still hear her carrying on.
Anyhow, I’ve looked up what we should do, and it seems that apple cider vinegar will clear up her snotty nose. It’s running down her beak, but it’s not bubbly, which our guide assures us is a good thing as it means it’s not infected. It will probably do the other two some good to be drinking the vinegar, too, as we put it in their water: it might help them stave it off.
It’s quite magical stuff, apple cider vinegar. We use it in salad dressings, but it says on the side of the bottle that you can drink it as a tonic, which I guess is what it’s doing for the hens.
But at least none of them has a swollen head or neck. That would be very bad news as it’s a sign of avian influenza.
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Like us, chickens can get stressed out by moving home, and come down with a cold. We had to take one of ours to the vet in the end, but it sounds like you’re on top of the situation.
Not a chicken, but I’ve seen a penguin sneeze, which was also rather cute. It seems like colds can indeed affect birds as much as mammals.
My Hetty has been sneezing since we got her – she is quite funny with it but she doesn’t shoot backwards! Get a video of that! It hasn’t gotten any worse and there is no snot so I am leaving her well alone.
I’m putting Apple Cider Vinegar in their water every day too. I kept forgetting until I realised it was easier if I kept the bottle beside the tap rather than in the shed! D’Uh!
was relieved to hear that the snezzing is not too much to worry about. I just got my three chickens 4 days ago and one has been sneezing (not very violent). First I thought she had got grass caught up her nostril – but can’t see anything. It seems to have got worse but she’s eating ok. I have p ut a bit of garlic in their water as I feel that is a natural antibiotic. They seem to be drinking it. But I like the idea of the cider apple vinegar and will get some today. How much do you put in their water. Two of them have also been pulling some feathers out. I have not handled them much yet (didn’t want to stress them too much at first). I’m hoping they haven’t got mites. Will have to get my son (his eyesight is better than mine) to help me check them. We have workmen working on our pavements with heavy plant and machinery and I feel the noise has been stressing them.
Regards to all other chicken owners,
Jean