Sick little chick

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mscallisto

mscallisto

Songster
8 Years
Sep 21, 2012
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So my step daughter found a chicken in her garage. It's a little chick I would guess about 6 weeks old. She seems to be kind of gurgling and kind of like she's snotty. When I hold her up to my ear she's a little rattly too. I think it's just a cold but what can I do to help her out. She is still eating and drinking just sneezing a lot. I have a heat lamp on her but the days here are getting close to a hundred degrees so I don't want to leave a heat lamp on when it's so hot. Any ideas?
 
I was trying to post a video I just took of her. She seems to be getting worse. I have researched it, but most seem to say just put a heat lamp on her and if she's going to come out of it, she will.

 
Sorry for the constant posting. I just went to check on her again. I had given her a little bath in the sink with some nice warm water because her butt was poopy and I figured the humidity couldn't hurt. I dried her and put her back in her tub with the heat lamp on, and now she's breathing much better. No sneezing and she's going for broke with the bowl of feed. She's giving me a headache! I had read somewhere that someone said to spray the face once a day with saline. Any thoughts?
 
Hello! As a precaution (since it sounds respiratory), you can put her on an antibiotic, which should be available at your local feed store. Something like oxytetracycline should do the trick for 7-10 days. The dosage might not be listed for chick size, but you can call the company to confirm a single chick dose. A little electrolyte solution will do her some good too (sugar and salt mixed into water). Would definitely try the antibiotics in this case. If you have any questions, feel free to message me. Good luck! :)
 
Thanks so much peacock! I had no idea electrolytes could be done with salt and sugar. I'll certainly give that a try. I'll make a trip to the feed store I get my girls food from and see about the antibiotics too. Since I live in town finding a vet who knows chickens is slim. Too bad my feed store doesn't have an onsite vet. I'll update her status if it changes.
 
You're welcome! A good broad spectrum antibiotic will knock anything out if it's a nasty bug - the sooner you can get it, the better. You can also buy packets of electrolytes for chickens also at the feed store, but I prefer to make a solution of my own - about a teaspoon of sugar and roughly the same amount of salt to an empty 30+ oz container of water (I prefer a cleaned out sports drink container that has a cap so you can store it in the fridge for a few days at a time, so you have it as you need it). Everyone's solution varies, but I like the 50/50 method.Some recipes even add a pinch or two of baking soda, which I haven't tried but it wouldn't hurt. It's a good home recipe that I always give my birds when they're feeling a little under the weather. You can even give them an infant electrolyte solution as well, but stay away from sport drinks because they're way too concentrated with salt! Hope she gets better soon!
 
mscallisto said:
I was trying to post a video I just took of her. She seems to be getting worse. I have researched it, but most seem to say just put a heat lamp on her and if she's going to come out of it, she will.

Click to expand...

What a cute little chick! I couldn't hear any sound in the video though, just a sneeze it sounded like. Yes, it will still need a heat lamp for at night for a couple of more weeks it looks like. Maybe you could put it on a cheap timer from walmart so it will shut off in the heat of the day.
I agree with other poster, put the chick on some antibiotics, it does sound respiratory. Give it some probiotics after you are done with the antibiotics. You might also check into a product called VetRX that you can get at most feed stores. It's like Vicks for chickens. Instructions come with it, but usually warm the bottle up and put a bit around the nostrils, under they wings where they tuck their head, etc., and it will help them breathe easier. I'd try to get some extra vitamins in the chicks diet. The best way is to buy the stuff you add to their water. They sell that at feed stores or Tractor supply stores also. Maybe a little grape/apple for extra C as some treats?
 
Sad news. I was going to get antibiotics today but it's too late. She passed sometime last night. When I got home last night I took her in the yard and she was eating bugs and dandelions like mad. She was chirping (and sneezing) but it must have been her last hurrah. Unfortunately, you can't save them all. :(

Thanks everyone for the advice.
 
Aww, I'm sorry for your loss. Respiratory infections are very aggressive in young birds. You did what you could and she sounded to be in good hands - comfortable and happy nonetheless - while you had her!
 

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