Respiratory Illness in Chickens: Symptoms, Causes & What To Do

Chickens are naturally noisy — clucking, squawking and even purring.

But coughing, sneezing and wheezing aren’t normal.

Respiratory issues become more common during cool, damp weather, and when they appear, it’s easy to feel unsure about what to do next.

The good news is that most problems can be managed — or even prevented — if you know what to look for early.

Early Signs of Respiratory Illness in Chickens

Respiratory issues often start subtly.

Watch for:

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Wheezing or rattly breathing
• Open-mouth breathing (not related to heat)
• Discharge from the eyes or nostrils
• Swelling around the face or beak
• Reduced appetite
• Lethargy or behavioural changes
• Fluffed feathers
• Pale comb or wattles
• Drop in egg production
• Thin-shelled or misshapen eggs

What Causes Respiratory Problems in Chickens?

In backyard flocks, most respiratory issues start with environmental conditions — particularly around feeding, watering, and coop airflow.

Common triggers include:

• Damp or mouldy bedding
• Poor ventilation - especially around feeders and drinkers
• Dusty feed or coop conditions
• Ammonia build-up from dirty bedding

These factors irritate the respiratory system and weaken your chickens’ ability to stay healthy.

Disease-related causes

Some illnesses are infectious and can spread through a flock, including:

• Infectious bronchitis
• Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD / mycoplasmosis)
• Infectious coryza
• Avian influenza
• Gapeworm (parasitic)

Chickens can carry disease without obvious symptoms, which is why early detection matters.

Why Young Chickens Are More Vulnerable

Chicks are especially sensitive to respiratory issues.

In most cases, problems are linked to brooder conditions such as:

• Incorrect temperature
• Poor airflow
• Dust
• Damp bedding

Even mild symptoms in chicks should be taken seriously.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Understanding severity helps you respond appropriately.

Mild symptoms

• Occasional sneezing
• Slight watery eyes

What to do:

• Check for dust, dampness or ventilation issues
• Clean and refresh bedding
• Monitor closely

Moderate symptoms

• Frequent sneezing or coughing
• Discharge from eyes or nostrils
• Reduced appetite or egg production

What to do:

• Isolate affected birds
• Clean and disinfect the coop
• Monitor for spread
• Consider veterinary advice

Serious symptoms

• Laboured breathing or gasping
• Facial swelling
• Rapid spread through flock
• Sudden deaths

What to do:

• Seek veterinary advice immediately

Is Respiratory Illness Contagious?

Many respiratory diseases spread easily between chickens.

If illness is present:

• Isolate affected birds (where appropriate)
• Clean feeders and drinkers thoroughly
• Disinfect the coop using a coop-safe disinfectant
• Wash hands and change footwear between flocks

Some diseases (like avian influenza) may also pose risks beyond your flock.

How to Prevent Respiratory Illness

Good flock management plays a major role in preventing respiratory problems — particularly maintaining clean feeding areas and proper ventilation.

Focus on:

• Keeping housing clean and dry
• Maintaining proper ventilation (fresh air without drafts)
• Reducing dust levels
• Providing balanced nutrition
• Minimising stress
• Quarantining new birds
• Limiting contact with wild birds
• Regular health checks

Small Changes Make a Big Difference

Most respiratory issues don’t start as serious problems.

They begin with small environmental changes that go unnoticed — until symptoms appear.

By staying proactive with coop conditions and flock management, you can prevent many issues before they start.