12 day old sounds strange- Worried

[UrbanPHXChicks]

I'm very new to chickens- just picked up my first flock from the feed store last Friday.
I lost a chick this past Friday suddenly. I'm watching them like a hawk and started them on sav-a-chick probiotics and electrolytes, just in case. They are on unmedicated feed. I'm cleaning their brooder often, the flout gets cleaned at least 2 times daily with hot water and soap. The temperature is at 90.

My favorite little girl an Americauna, 12 days old, is sounding funny. She sounds kinda like she is congested, she isn't chirping like normal. She's very quiet, almost sounds muffled, but otherwise acting completely normal. She's eating normal and hopping around, and generally very inquisitive. She was found sleeping on the roost this AM. I noticed she sounded a little funny yesterday.

I did bring home another chick from the feed store on Saturday to replace the one that didn't make it. She's doing great- seems happy and healthy.

I'm worried sick. Any suggestions or insights?


I feel like a first-time mom- I can't sleep and in a state of constant worry!

 

[Michael Apple]

It's never a good idea to introduce a new bird immediately to a flock. At least a month quarantine is recommended. What I would do is run a light antibiotic of Chlortetracycline soluble powder in the water for 5 days. Change the water solution every 12 hours. You should see improvement by day 3 if it is some non-viral respiratory problem. The dosage is 1/4 teaspoon per quart of water. I hope your chick recovers. Make sure the brooder isn't dusty or moist. You don't need to scrub it down with soap every day. If you use shavings pick the matted areas out and replace with more shavings. What kind of soap were you using and how were you applying it?

 

[UrbanPHXChicks]

Thank you!
I assumed adding a new one right away wasn't going to be an issue since they are all only just over a week old and a couple came from the same feed store shipment as the new one. I clean the water flout with hot water and non-toxic dish soap. I use a scrub brush or simply swish it around, then rinse till the soap is completely gone. I clean the droppings out of the brooder on a regular basis and have done a complete clean out 3 times in the past 12 days. I suppose it seems a little dusty on the walls of the brooder from the pine shavings. I will wipe it down.
I will start antibiotics. Should I isolate her? Or the new chick? Should I continue to use the probiotics and electrolytes in addition to the antibiotics?

Thanks again! Any help is very appreciated. I thought I was well prepared and educated prior to bringing them home, but now I feel completely lost.

 

[Michael Apple]

It would be a good idea to keep antibiotics on hand for back-up. I don't know whether you have them on medicated feed or not, but I'd buy some Corid 9.6% or the powder packet, and keep some Chlortetracycline powder on hand. Don't stress out the chicks buy moving them around/handling them too often. If you are using shavings, I prefer a larger flake pine shaving rather than the finer cut as they tend to be dusty depending on the brand. Pick out the more soiled area of the shavings and add some more over time if you need to. Change the water and feed every day to be safe. You're doing alright, just keep us posted if you have any more concerns. Let us know how the chicks are doing.

 

[UrbanPHXChicks]

Not currently on medicated feed, just regular chick starter. I will get antibiotics and medicated feed as soon as the feed store opens this AM.
Should I continue with the Sav-a-chick in addition to the antibiotics?

 

[Michael Apple]

Not currently on medicated feed, just regular chick starter. I will get antibiotics and medicated feed as soon as the feed store opens this AM.
Should I continue with the Sav-a-chick in addition to the antibiotics?

No, give one or the other. I don't use medicated feed. I prefer to dose the water with Corid and controlling the amount of medication they get. I do the preventative dose at 5 day intervals and vitamins-electrolytes probiotics in between.