Sneezy rabbits contagious to chickens?

[ollitos]

A woman came to the farm today and purchased 2 of our young chickens. After some talking, she mentioned that her rabbits sneeze. Every day. I told her to check here, but it sounds like they have a respiratory infection which is not good.

She handled all of the 5 chicks that hatched together.

Can the chickens catch whatever the rabbits have?

We're putting these chicks in a rabbit growout pen out in the yard. I'm going to keep them far from the rabbits at this point. But is there a possibility that the chicks could pass the infection to the rabbits? I'm worried about contamination from handling the chicks, then taking care of the rabbits.

I feel like I'm being paranoid, but I want to make sure I protect the health of the rabbits.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

I don't know. But I would keep them quarantined as you are. I would actually be more concerned about you transferring it to the rabbits on your clothes or hands. Hopefully she came after she did her chores and had showered and changed clothes.

 

[Piper]

- I did not find a sticky about pasteurella, but there is this thread, that debates the possibility, that it is all around us.
post89026.html?hilit=snuffles#p89026
- take care of the rabbits, your main chickens -> then take care of the chicks. That way, you should not carry it from chickens to rabbits, if there is something.
- Hopefully, her rabbits may only have allergies. If she uses pans under her rabbits, some rabbits are sensitive and can not take the smell that close. I have a rabbit that sneezes and will look like he has snuffles, if I use a pan on his cage. Rabbits can also sneeze from other things, like hay.
- Does she have meat rabbits? Does she do the butchering? A necropsy, might show if she does have something wrong.

 

[ollitos]

She has lionhead pets. I told her that sneezing is not normal especially if it's every day and to check here for more info. No mucous though.

 

[Piper]

She has lionhead pets. I told her that sneezing is not normal especially if it's every day and to check here for more info. No mucous though.

I agree. It is not normal and she needs to get to the reason why. I have seen outside rabbits put their feet and part of their head in the water, then 'sneeze' out the water, when it is hot. If her rabbits are indoors, it could be pans, air fresheners or, other things. Questions:
- how long has she had the rabbits
- how old are the rabbits
- has she changed / add -- food / hay
- has the environment like air quality or pans - have they changed
- what is the temperature where they are
Those are just a few questions I can think of, and I suspect you may have already asked.
- There is always the potential that they are just now starting to show symptoms of the dreaded 'snuffles',
I will keep my fingers crossed for her, and your chicks!