Cinnaminute
Songster
I'm trying to figure out if the dirt caused this or the straw or something else as well as the best methods for treatment. I hope everything makes sense. This started right before my bedtime and I would've been asleep over an hour ago but I've been doing everything I can and wanted to post this. I delay in replying, it's because I fell asleep but I'm sure I'll be waking up often to check on everyone so I'll check in here too.
The birds affected: Two 2 week old Crevecoeurs, Alice and Yzma. I bought six Crevecoeurs and one Rhode Island Red from a local feed store back on February 10th.
The birds not affected: The other four Crevecoeurs and the Rhode Island Red aren't showing any symptoms as of yet.
Other birds: I have my first flock of chickens outside: six Easter Eggers that are about 9mo and a Polish that is almost a year old. All of them are fine and healthy. Neither flocks have come in contact. I wear different clothes around both as well and wash hands in between.
The problem: It all started earlier today. I noticed Alice was moving the area under her beak despite not making any noise. It almost looked like she was swallowing. A few hours ago, I was tending to them and decided to give them what I call "porridge" (their Purina Flock Raiser moistened into a soft lukewarm mush). Yzma took a bite but then leaned her head back like she was having trouble swallowing. She did this a couple times but recovered and ate like normal. The mush is as thick as I always make it and no one has ever done that. Then Alice began to do the same. After eating Alice sneezed twice and then she started a cough. I had been sitting with them for over an hour so this definitely started after she ate. It's been a couple hours and the cough has persisted. I caught Yzma sneezing once but nothing regular.
Past problems: Alice has shown signs of being sensitive. She and another that I don't remember kept having pasty butt the first few days I had them. Alice also wasn't eating much and would stand there struggling to poop but had nothing come out (during clean butt times). I ended up feeding her scrambled eggs and she finally ate ferociously. That set her system straight. She also has pooped normal ever since and happily eats both her dry and wet Purina Flock Raiser.
Suspicions: Since I introduced my EE girls to dirt around 12 days old I decided to follow the same routine with my new chicks albeit slightly younger. A couple days ago I added a patch of dirt to a play area of the brooder (pictures below). No one was interested since the play area was new. However, today that changed. They got brave. Needless to say they demolished that clump of dirt and also ate some. It could be a coincidence but hours after that is when the symptoms began. I did get the dirt from an area of the yard my older flock doesn't go but it's the same area I got their first dirt from when they were babies just 9ish months ago. However these Crevecoeurs have been on straw bedding for a few days so that could also be the cause or at least part of it.
Their brooder: Brooder is kept in the living room by day and bathroom by night. I extend their play area in the living room. I did this with my first flock as well. Inside temperature is around 65-75. They have the K&H brooder plate 24/7. I use a space heater in the bathroom at night to keep the ambient air around 70 because we've been having cold nights and aren't using the heat in the house. The chicks don't seem to be cold. They run, fly, perch, etc. They'll go under the brooder plate to get warm. Bedding was potty pads unscented that I changed 3x a day. However after that reached about a week old they started getting poop balls on their toes. I'm out of pine shavings so I decided to put them on straw until I get some so they're not getting poop covered. The straw I shake off excess dust and pack it flat. No one digs in it so it doesn't seem like any dust would get kicked up, but I know they sleep laying down so they can still be affected I imagine. I clean out the straw bedding once a day and it doesn't smell bad in the brooder. I also clean their waterer daily and their food dish every few days. I also began offering grit the same day I introduced the straw bedding. I've seen them peck at it at times but I haven't witnessed anyone consuming it. I'm sure they have had a bit, being chickens and all. But I have also seen them eat a little piece of grit once a day or so. They're not too interested but they've had some and I'm sure most of them would have more if needed.
Symptoms: A recurring cough that began after an episode where she ate, had trouble swallowing at first, and then sneezed a couple times. The cough has been going on for approximately 3-4 hours now. She doesn't cough as much when asleep but it seems to sometimes wake her up. No other symptoms right now. No runny nose. Eyes are clear. Energetic. Curious and aware. Same appetite. There might be a slight congestion when breathing. Seems she may be breathing slightly more heavy than normal since this morning (or swallowing often - can't tell which).
Treatments: I removed the straw ASAP so they've only been on it for about 3 days. I also put VetRX on the water as well as dabbed some on the potty pad and around the brooder box.
Pictures of the brooder:
The box area with straw is how I had their main box done until I panicked and removed it. You can see the dirt play area too. They really spread it around. It is pretty dry and dusty.
Video (this morning before or at start of symptoms): Alice is the one perched on the brooder at the start of the video. She has an adorable little white beard. Towards the end of the video you can see her to the left of the RIR and you can see how under her beak is moving oddly. Other than that, everyone is fine. No coughing, sneezing, or anything. Alice is very curious about the camera so she even jumps down and trills at it a bit.
Video (tonight when symptoms began): And this is shortly after her cough started. I've checked in with them already a few times while writing this. Sometimes she might cough twice in a minute like in the video, sometimes she might not cough for a good 5 minutes or so. But it's far too often for my comfort.
The birds affected: Two 2 week old Crevecoeurs, Alice and Yzma. I bought six Crevecoeurs and one Rhode Island Red from a local feed store back on February 10th.
The birds not affected: The other four Crevecoeurs and the Rhode Island Red aren't showing any symptoms as of yet.
Other birds: I have my first flock of chickens outside: six Easter Eggers that are about 9mo and a Polish that is almost a year old. All of them are fine and healthy. Neither flocks have come in contact. I wear different clothes around both as well and wash hands in between.
The problem: It all started earlier today. I noticed Alice was moving the area under her beak despite not making any noise. It almost looked like she was swallowing. A few hours ago, I was tending to them and decided to give them what I call "porridge" (their Purina Flock Raiser moistened into a soft lukewarm mush). Yzma took a bite but then leaned her head back like she was having trouble swallowing. She did this a couple times but recovered and ate like normal. The mush is as thick as I always make it and no one has ever done that. Then Alice began to do the same. After eating Alice sneezed twice and then she started a cough. I had been sitting with them for over an hour so this definitely started after she ate. It's been a couple hours and the cough has persisted. I caught Yzma sneezing once but nothing regular.
Past problems: Alice has shown signs of being sensitive. She and another that I don't remember kept having pasty butt the first few days I had them. Alice also wasn't eating much and would stand there struggling to poop but had nothing come out (during clean butt times). I ended up feeding her scrambled eggs and she finally ate ferociously. That set her system straight. She also has pooped normal ever since and happily eats both her dry and wet Purina Flock Raiser.
Suspicions: Since I introduced my EE girls to dirt around 12 days old I decided to follow the same routine with my new chicks albeit slightly younger. A couple days ago I added a patch of dirt to a play area of the brooder (pictures below). No one was interested since the play area was new. However, today that changed. They got brave. Needless to say they demolished that clump of dirt and also ate some. It could be a coincidence but hours after that is when the symptoms began. I did get the dirt from an area of the yard my older flock doesn't go but it's the same area I got their first dirt from when they were babies just 9ish months ago. However these Crevecoeurs have been on straw bedding for a few days so that could also be the cause or at least part of it.
Their brooder: Brooder is kept in the living room by day and bathroom by night. I extend their play area in the living room. I did this with my first flock as well. Inside temperature is around 65-75. They have the K&H brooder plate 24/7. I use a space heater in the bathroom at night to keep the ambient air around 70 because we've been having cold nights and aren't using the heat in the house. The chicks don't seem to be cold. They run, fly, perch, etc. They'll go under the brooder plate to get warm. Bedding was potty pads unscented that I changed 3x a day. However after that reached about a week old they started getting poop balls on their toes. I'm out of pine shavings so I decided to put them on straw until I get some so they're not getting poop covered. The straw I shake off excess dust and pack it flat. No one digs in it so it doesn't seem like any dust would get kicked up, but I know they sleep laying down so they can still be affected I imagine. I clean out the straw bedding once a day and it doesn't smell bad in the brooder. I also clean their waterer daily and their food dish every few days. I also began offering grit the same day I introduced the straw bedding. I've seen them peck at it at times but I haven't witnessed anyone consuming it. I'm sure they have had a bit, being chickens and all. But I have also seen them eat a little piece of grit once a day or so. They're not too interested but they've had some and I'm sure most of them would have more if needed.
Symptoms: A recurring cough that began after an episode where she ate, had trouble swallowing at first, and then sneezed a couple times. The cough has been going on for approximately 3-4 hours now. She doesn't cough as much when asleep but it seems to sometimes wake her up. No other symptoms right now. No runny nose. Eyes are clear. Energetic. Curious and aware. Same appetite. There might be a slight congestion when breathing. Seems she may be breathing slightly more heavy than normal since this morning (or swallowing often - can't tell which).
Treatments: I removed the straw ASAP so they've only been on it for about 3 days. I also put VetRX on the water as well as dabbed some on the potty pad and around the brooder box.
Pictures of the brooder:
The box area with straw is how I had their main box done until I panicked and removed it. You can see the dirt play area too. They really spread it around. It is pretty dry and dusty.
Video (this morning before or at start of symptoms): Alice is the one perched on the brooder at the start of the video. She has an adorable little white beard. Towards the end of the video you can see her to the left of the RIR and you can see how under her beak is moving oddly. Other than that, everyone is fine. No coughing, sneezing, or anything. Alice is very curious about the camera so she even jumps down and trills at it a bit.
Video (tonight when symptoms began): And this is shortly after her cough started. I've checked in with them already a few times while writing this. Sometimes she might cough twice in a minute like in the video, sometimes she might not cough for a good 5 minutes or so. But it's far too often for my comfort.
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