Why is my chicken sneezing?

A single sneeze is normal. Repeated sneezing, especially with watery eyes, head shaking, or rattling breath, almost always means a respiratory infection.

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Most likely causes

1. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG)
The most common cause. Chronic, contagious, often flares under stress or weather changes. Birds become lifelong carriers.
2. Infectious bronchitis
Viral and very contagious. Causes sneezing, drop in egg production, and misshapen eggs.
3. Dust or ammonia irritation
Dusty bedding, dry feed, or ammonia from wet litter irritates the airways and triggers sneezing without true infection.
4. Aspergillosis (fungal)
From moldy feed or damp bedding. Usually causes gasping more than sneezing, but worth ruling out.
5. Mites in the nostrils
Rare but possible, northern fowl mites can crawl onto the face and trigger head-shaking and sneezing.

What to check first

Are nostrils clear, or crusted/runny?
Any rattling, wheezing, or open-mouth breathing?
Watery, foamy, or bubbly eyes?
Has feed quality changed? Any visible mold?
Is the coop dusty, damp, or smelly with ammonia?
How many birds are affected, one, or several?

Home care that works

Isolate the sneezing bird in a separate dust-free space.
Improve ventilation without creating a draft, open vents at the top of the coop.
Swap dusty pine shavings for hemp, large-flake shavings, or sand.
Add 1 tsp apple cider vinegar per gallon of water (plastic waterers only) for 7 days.
Boost immunity with electrolytes and vitamins (Sav-A-Chick or Nutri-Drench).
Clean and disinfect the coop, paying special attention to perches and nest boxes.

Call a vet if

Sneezing lasts more than 48 hours with no improvement.
Bird is gasping, open-mouth breathing, or making rattling sounds.
Swollen face, sinuses, or wattles.
Multiple birds get sick within a few days.
Egg production drops sharply or eggs are misshapen.

Frequently asked questions

Can chicken sneezing go away on its own?

Dust or mild irritation often clears within 24-48 hours once you fix ventilation and bedding. True infections (MG, IB) rarely resolve without supportive care and usually become chronic.

Is chicken sneezing contagious to humans?

The main respiratory illnesses of chickens (Mycoplasma, IB, ILT) do not infect humans. Always wash hands after handling sick birds anyway.

What antibiotic do you give a sneezing chicken?

Tylosin and Tylan are commonly used for Mycoplasma, but they're prescription-only in most places. Don't medicate blindly, a vet can confirm the cause with a cheap swab test.