BABY CHICKS GASPING FOR AIR "HELP"

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StillmanFarm

StillmanFarm

Chirping
6 Years
Jan 27, 2014
3
0
60
I have a question, I had a baby chick that was 4 days old and was laying on her belly with eyes closed and appearing to have problems breathing "gasping for air". I gave water via medicine dropper and tried to feed, the baby chick did drink water but the next morning was dead. I took out the rest of the baby chicks from brooder to clean out screened floor and put back in brooder. Now 3 chicks are doing the same thing like gasping for air with eyes closed. What should I do/what is the cause of this, does anybody know?

Water I have durvet vitamins & electrolytes, sav-A-chick probiotic & apple cider vinegar

Thanks for any help
Christopher
 
Well, this could be the cause of using cedar shavings in your brooder. Cedar shavings make it hard for chicks to breath, which can cause death.
hmm.png

Do you use cedar shavings? If you do, I would replace them with large pine shaving immediately!

I hope this helps!
 
It almost looks like hick-ups, but in a gasping like way. STRESSED OUT my first time hatching chicken eggs
 
I have the same thing going on right now with one of my chicks. Best of luck to you.
 
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StillmanFarm said:
I have a question, I had a baby chick that was 4 days old and was laying on her belly with eyes closed and appearing to have problems breathing "gasping for air". I gave water via medicine dropper and tried to feed, the baby chick did drink water but the next morning was dead. I took out the rest of the baby chicks from brooder to clean out screened floor and put back in brooder. Now 3 chicks are doing the same thing like gasping for air with eyes closed. What should I do/what is the cause of this, does anybody know?

Water I have durvet vitamins & electrolytes, sav-A-chick probiotic & apple cider vinegar

Thanks for any help
Christopher
Click to expand...
Why are you adding apple cider vinegar to the water with chicks that young? That is too acidic for a young chick's developing digestive system, and can cause regurgitation. Regurgitation means aspiration (liquid in the air sacs).

Many people also make the mistake of giving newly arrived chicks water for too long. The practice is to prevent filling up on water too quickly in order to avoid aspiration. Provide tepid or warm water mixed with poultry vitamins-electrolytes the first 10 minutes after chicks are placed in the brooder, make sure they all get some, and then take the water away for 15 minutes.
 
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I would stop the ACV, and the electrolytes. Start on Tylan in the water. I would not be forcing them to drink other than dipping their beaks in a teaspoon of medicated water. Running water down their throat can aspirate them.
 
One of my chicks just started doing it...its so sad. Were currently just snuggling on the couch. Not sure what else to do to help... I use pine shavings mixed with a little hay.. do you think thats the cause? This is so sad!!!
 
This happened to me and two died. Get rid of the electrolytes and add one tablespoon of acv with mother per one gallon. Imagine drinking nothing but Gatorade, your body needs the water for hydration. Hope that cures your problem let me know
 

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