Whether you are raising chickens for meat, for a business, or just to bring in some eggs from the back yard it is important to pay attention when chickens are not doing well. This can help to prevent the issue from becoming greater, which can result in reduced egg production, bird growth, and potentially even death.

Every day I check over my flock. By checking regularly you are going to be ahead of the game in the event something serious is going on. By visiting daily you are more likely to notice when something is off. 

• Is it contagious?
• Can it be fatal?  
• Do I have a day to deal with this or is this an emergency?

Let us go through some of the common reasons your chickens may be sneezing. Some reasons for sneezing can be pretty harmless, but it could be something that will require changes in your coop or treatment.

Observing Your Chicken

The first thing you will want to do is to observe the chickens a little further.  Not sure where to look? Check out our Healthy Hen Anatomy page to first learn the various parts of the chicken.

What do you see? Was it a one-time sneeze? Head shaking? Any nasal or eye discharge?  How is the energy level? 

If you are seeing discharge, you will have considerations for the potential for Upper Respiratory infections/distress. Vet RX is a product that we carry here at Meyer Hatchery that is a very popular product for poultry upper respiratory health. You can learn more here at The Many Uses of Vet Rx.

Nasal and Eye Discharge? Decreased Egg Production with some eggs being laid with thin crinkled shells?  You may be looking at Infection Bronchitis. You can learn more at our Infectious Bronchitis in Chickens Help Desk Article.

Is it more of a chest rattle with the neck extending out as they seem to gasp? You may want to consider the potential of a gapeworm infection. You can learn more about this infection at Gape Worm Infection in Poultry page.

Environmental Considerations

If everything overall looks okay, it could simply be a sneeze due to environmental reasons. Check to see if your coop has proper ventilation and air flow. Chickens may sneeze because of dust, pollen, chemical irritants or simply having a dry throat with a little irritant in it.  You can reduce coop irritants by using a low dust material for the flooring. You will want to make sure that the coop has good ventilation and air flow.

Still stumped? Consider contacting your local University Extension office. The extension office is an egg-cellent source of information and they can provide you with assistance free of charge. Not sure where to find your University Extension office? Check out this Help Desk Article to learn more.