1 week chick opening and closing mouth..Please help!!

[theharvey3]

Please help! I have three one- week-old chicks. Last night one of them started opening and closing her mouth, closing her eyes, and now is not even standing. The other two seem just fine. She is not "pasted up" and the temp in the brooder is great. Does anyone know what this might be and what I should do?
Thank you!!

 

[seminolewind]

It sounds respiratory. Like pneumonia. You could try antibiotics, but I don't think this is a good thing.

 

[theharvey3]

Thank you for your help. You were right, the chick was struggling to breath and the vet suggested putting her to sleep. Poor thing, at least she is not suffering anymore.

 

[seminolewind]

I'm sorry. I had a chick do that for a few days before she died. I hope your other 2 chicks are doing well.

 

[theharvey3]

Thank you. I am actually worried about the other two getting the same thing. They don't seem to have as much energy as usual. Are there warning signs I should be looking for or anything I should be doing to help them avoid problems after losing the other one?

 

[ruth]

When you say the temp in the brooder is great what do you mean? Are the chicks under the heat lamp or as far away as they can get? They need to be able to get away from the lamp if they get hot. It sounds like it could have been panting - from being too hot. Or it could have just been weak. I give any chicks/ducks that appear to be weak or lethargic Poly-Vi-Sol. It's a liquid baby vitamin supplement sold wherever baby supplies are sold. Give them a couple of drops on side of beak till they swallow. You can also add several drops to a small dish of water. I also feed mine scrambled egg - high in protein and vitamins and they LOVE it once they try it - shark feeding frenzy after that.

 

[theharvey3]

The temp in the brooder is 90 which I read is what is should be the second week. They can also get away from the direct light if they want. The two seem to be doing pretty well, I think since I am new to this! But I will try the eggs too, which I'm sure they won't complain about. I also started a new "thread" last night asking for help on keeping the two chicks from getting the same thing, so I may get more advice. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[ruth]

I watch the chicks and see how they are behaving. I never use a thermometer. 90 in a closed box with little or no fresh air can become too hot - not saying this is what's happening with yours - just saying that relying on temps alone can be misleading. Watch the chicks - they should be running around and scratching and flapping wings and playing and having a great time - then just collapse and sleep for awhile or fall asleep standing up - only to suddenlty start running around again. If they are not acting that way - if they are panting or huddling together or not moving around much - something is wrong.

What type of top do you have on your brooder - it's best not to have anything except maybe a wire top to keep them from jumping out if the box is low. They need fresh air. When I first got chicks I had them in a cardboard box with the lids mostly closed and the heat lamp on them and that thing heated up like an Easy Bake Oven - temp said 90 like it should but that enclosed air was like a furnace. That's how I learned not to rely on temp alone. Ever since I've been putting my chicks in open cages outside in fresh air and sunshine with no heat lamp. Never lost a chick.