BABY CHICK PROBLEMS!! HELP!!

Date sort Score sort
silkiechickens8

silkiechickens8

Chirping
Mar 27, 2015
117
3
61
400




This chick (black Sumatra) has been breathing heavy for a few days now. She's a week old and is eating very good but I have not seen her drink by herself (I make her drink water). She breathes heavy with her beak closed. Is there something wrong with her? I don't think she's cold because none of the other ones are? Does she have coccidiosis? God, I'm petrified that that's what it is. That happened to me before. She's running around with the other ones so fingers crossed. Also,I have a New Jersey Giant chick that is itching her neck like crazy! Does she have mites? Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
What is your brooder temperature with a thermometer on the floor under the lamp? The temperature should be between 85 and 90 degrees F at her age with cooler spot to get to. Make sure that your ventilation is good, and use only pine shavings, paper towel, or sand in the brooder. Try some electrolytes such as SaveAChick in the water for 2-3 days, and continue to dip her beak. Watch for pasty butt, and clean off if needed.
 
Thanks! I've been doing the electrolytes a lot. There's nothing really wrong with her except the fact that she's breathing heavy with her beak closed. She has a spot to bathe in the heat and a place to get away from it. Now the day old one is itching her neck like crazy and peeping. I feel so bad.
 
Last edited:
Have you checked the temperature? Look the chick over that is scratching, in case there is some reason such as tiny bugs. Too much heat can really be a problem. Or it could be too cold. A cheap room thermometer is all that is necessary. Good luck.
 
It's 90 degrees in their brooder and she has been breathing a little less heavy so I think she's ok (hopefully), but the other one (I couldn't find anything on her) is still itching and seems to be in distress. Is it because her feathers are growing in? Is there anything I can do to make her less irritated? Thanks so much for all the help so far though!
 
That is good to hear. Most chicks scratch a bit, and it probably is her feathers coming in. What is their bedding--pine shavings? How does her crop feel, and is she eating a drinking?
 
Last edited:
Well now the chick that was breathing heavy (1 week and 3 days old) is gasping for air. She's able to stand up, but I'm really worried that it'll spread to the other chicks too. Do you think it could be a cold? Or being overcrowded? Im getting a bigger brooder today because I got a lot more chicks yesterday's and it's a little small. I'm using pine shavings and have been refreshing their water four times a day and putting electrolytes in it. Another question is that one of my week olds is A LOT smaller than the rest of them (she's even smaller than the 2 day olds) is there anything I can do to help her grow? She's eating and is a fiesty little thing, but she didn't want any of the scrambled egg I tried to feed her. Thanks for all the help so far!
 
Did the chicks come from a breeder? The chick could be just very weak from something such as a heart problem, or it could have been exposed to a respiratory disease from wherever it was hatched. Chickens get viruses, bacterial diseases, and fungal diseases. I would continue to give it electrolytes and vitamins, and if you think it could have a respiratory disease, you may want to get some oxytetracycline or Tylan from your feed store to treat it's water. Make sure there is no wet bedding in the brooder from spills, since it can cause mold and fungal diseases like brooder pneumonia (aspergillosis.)
 
Is the Tylan safe for the other chicks too drink? I got them from a feed store and I have no idea what's wrong with her? What do you think are the chances of her making it? Thanks!
 
Last edited:
No, don't give antibiotics to the others unnecessarily. Get Tylan50 injectable, and give it orally. Dosage for a little chick would be 1/8 to 1/4 ml twice daily for 5 days. If using Tylan powder in the water, dosage is 1/4 tsp per quart of water or 1 tsp per gallon, and treat only her for 5 days. Oxytetracycline can also be used in the water if you cannot find Tylan.
 

Similar threads

Jenjens
    • Sad
Breathing heavy, not looking please help
Replies
5
Views
635
Jenjens
Jenjens
M
Please Help, Sick Chicken
Replies
2
Views
503
Eggcessive
Eggcessive
A
    • Like
1 week old baby chick gasping for air?
Replies
1
Views
337
Barbours
Barbours
M
Sick Chicken
Replies
4
Views
386
Eggcessive
Eggcessive
LaurenRitz
Lethargic chick not lifting her head easily
2
Replies
18
Views
642
LaurenRitz
LaurenRitz

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom