Baby chicks

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andi13

andi13

In the Brooder
5 Years
Jul 20, 2014
30
0
22
San Jose, CA
Hey all. I am new to raising chicks, we just got our first flock today. They are so active and making lots of peeping noises, but we have one chick that looks to be a week or two older than the others. It looks like it is breathing heavier than the rest, or possibly panting...it keeps opening and closing it's mouth and shaking it's head. Is this something I should be concerned about? Did the store sell me a sick chick? Should I keep it away from the others? I really am not too sure what to do. Any advice would be very much appreciated!
 
If all your chicks came from the same place, it's likely anything contagious would already have spread to them. IS this problem chick a good eater, active otherwise etc? Is your weather hot right now? Is he a different breed? Some are less tolerant of hot weather than other breeds.

If he opens his mouth often and also shakes his head, I am wondering if he might have gape worms? You can check for it by using a long cotton swab and gently swabbing the back of his throat. Don't let go of the swab. If is comes out with some red or even wiggly worms on it - then you have a positive ID.

Head shaking can also indicate a problem with the ears. It would not hurt to post in detail, age ,symptoms, how long he has been this way, etc. at "emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures," thread.

Do contact the store and tell them what is going on? They may very well have sold you a sick chick.
 
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from Washington! BYC is the best fowl website you can find.
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I hope you feel glad you signed up! In our flock we have great people and it is always great to have a new member:) In our flock, we have no pecking order!

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By the way, not saying that you will do anything bad, but no fowl play
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You might want to post this under here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures



or here:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/11/raising-baby-chicks

Hope this works!
 
drumstick diva said:
If all your chicks came from the same place, it's likely anything contagious would already have spread to them.   IS this problem chick a good eater, active otherwise etc?  Is your weather  hot right now? Is he a different breed?  Some are less tolerant of hot weather than other breeds.

If he opens his mouth often and also shakes his head, I am wondering if he might have gape worms?  You can check for it by using a long cotton swab and gently swabbing the back of his throat. Don't let go of the  swab.   If is comes out with some red or even wiggly worms on it - then you have a positive ID.

Head shaking  can also indicate a problem with the ears. It would not hurt to post in detail, age ,symptoms, how long he has been this way,  etc. at "emergencies, diseases, injuries, cures," thread.

Do contact the store and tell them what is going on? They may very well have sold you a sick chick.
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Thanks that's very helpful. I just got her today and she is a different breed from the other three. She is an ameraucana and I would guess she is about three weeks old. The other ones are almost two weeks and she is bigger and has more feathers. It is hot here today was low 90's. She hardly shakes her head it's the panting that concerns me the most but I thought I would just add the head shaking because I've seen it once or twice. I really just don't want to lose her! Thanks for your help I'll try posting in the other forum!
 
Hello there and welcome to BYC!
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She is too young for gape worm. But she could be panting due to the heat. Chicks can't yet regulate their internal heating and cooling systems. And 90 is a bit hot for a 3 week old chick. So get them into cooler temps, or use fans, hose the area down, ice in the water fonts, cool treats, even ice packs inside a box to hang out in works well. Here is a thread on keeping your birds cool in the summer heat...https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/899082/keeping-chickens-cool-in-the-summer

If you still have issues going on after this, you might post this in our emergency section for more help...https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

So glad you could join our community and welcome to our flock!
 
Welcome to BYC! Please make yourself at home and we are here to help.

Yes, 90 is too hot for three week chicks. Put her in a cooler place or give her cool thing to sit next to such as frozen water bottles.

Two Crows has given you some great links.

Good luck!
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! You've gotten some good suggestions and links above, good luck with your chicks.
 

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