Chicken sneezing / watery eyes: what’s normal, what’s not, and what to fix

First: when it’s urgent

If you see any of the below, stop Googling and get proper help (urgent vet / poultry expert):

• Open-mouth breathing, tail bobbing, or obvious respiratory distress.
• Swollen face/eyes, thick discharge, or bubbling at nostrils.
• Blue/purple comb, collapse, or severe lethargy.
• Multiple birds develop symptoms rapidly.
• Symptoms persist or worsen over a few days despite fixes.

Quick checks (60 seconds)

• Smell the coop: ammonia smell = irritation and a ventilation/cleaning problem.
• Check bedding: is it dusty (especially fine shavings) or damp?
• Look for high-level vents (not drafts on roost). Poor airflow = damp + irritation.
• Are sneezes mostly when leaving the coop? That points to air quality.
• Any new birds recently? (new birds can bring disease).
• Check eyes and nostrils for discharge (clear vs thick).

Likely causes (the usual suspects)

• Dusty bedding or feed dust irritating airways.
• Poor ventilation causing damp and ammonia build-up.
• Cold, damp conditions combined with stress.
• Respiratory infection (viral/bacterial) — requires proper assessment.
• Allergy/temporary irritation after cleaning or bedding change.
• Overcrowding increasing stress and exposure.

What to do today

1. Improve air quality first: clean wet bedding, reduce dust, and ensure ventilation is working.
2. Switch to low-dust bedding and avoid stirring dust inside the coop.
3. Isolate the symptomatic bird if needed to monitor and reduce pecking stress.
4. Keep birds dry and out of drafts while still ensuring airflow high up.
5. If discharge thickens, swelling appears, or breathing looks hard: contact a poultry/avian vet.