2.5 week old chick - struggling to breathe - shaking

[Rachnicko]

One of our 2 and a half week old chicks has just come down with something. I was with them an hour ago, and they were jumping on me like usual, including little Zasu Polish frizzle. They were with the broody hen mother in the run.
I just (about 20 minutes ago) noticed she was listless and struggling to breathe so fetched her inside.
She was alert but had her beak open when breathing so thought she could be hot as it is a warm day. However, she wouldn’t eat or drink. Then we put her down and she pooped and seemed a bit better, and took a bit of water and yoghurt.
Now she has gone to sleep and I hear wheezing as she breathes. She does wake up, but dozes back off. And she seems to be shaking a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

One of our 2 and a half week old chicks has just come down with something. I was with them an hour ago, and they were jumping on me like usual, including little Zasu Polish frizzle. They were with the broody hen mother in the run.
I just (about 20 minutes ago) noticed she was listless and struggling to breathe so fetched her inside.
She was alert but had her beak open when breathing so thought she could be hot as it is a warm day. However, she wouldn’t eat or drink. Then we put her down and she pooped and seemed a bit better, and took a bit of water and yoghurt.
Now she has gone to sleep and I hear wheezing as she breathes. She does wake up, but dozes back off. And she seems to be shaking a bit.

Does anyone have any ideas?

Pasty butt is deadly fast.. and sound like what you might be dealing with. Make sure the chick bumm is clear daily. Usually if I notice one, I will find it at night to and handle it just to reduce stress on the mum from taking her baby.

No matter how many times I see folks post that pasty but is caused by us having brooders too hot.. I've hatched enough chicks even with broody's to know that any number of things can cause it that have nothing to do with my mismanagement and 100% YES chicks with a broody mum CAN get pasty butt..

Most obvious symptoms.. labored breathing, decreased appetite, Lethargy..

Raw apple cider vinegar with mother is a common source of probiotics that folks use to help out chicks that might need some beneficial gut flora added. Maybe 1 tablespoon per gallon added to water.

Birds with blocked colon will become septic as waste build up in the system. They wont be able to eat or drink because it has no where to go which of course means no nutrient for energy to sustain life.

Keep it clean.. and I bet the chick makes a full recovery!

 

[Rachnicko]

Thank you - that was the first thing I checked as one of the others had pasty butt at 2 days old - but it’s all clear. I spend time with all 3 chicks most days and haven’t seen any further signs of pasty butt.

I was actually thinking it could be respiratory - but don’t know how to help her (hopefully she’s a her).

There’s been a bit of development. we gave her some crushed paracetamol, cough syrup and poultry tonic diluted, and she has picked up slightly. She’s pooped again, which seemed slightly mucusy maybe. She’s now eating some yoghurt.

Hopefully we’ve done the right thing.

 

[Rachnicko]

Just an update here. Zasu is doing ok, but still isn’t right. She spent the night in the coop with broody mum. And it was the first night mum has decided to sleep on the perch with them Anyway, because the other 2 chicks are so active and I could see Zasu was a bit wobbly I’ve brought her inside. I’ve tried making homemade electrolytes with a recipe online and managed to get a could of drops down her. I’ve also wetted chick crumb with the electrolyte solution and poultry tonic which she has pecked at altho not eaten much. I’m actually now wondering if the problem is she’s struggling to swallow. She does eat and drink but seems to struggle a bit afterwards. She’s pooped, and I wondered if there was blood in it. It’s not obvious, just a red tinge - photos attached. Her vent is still clear.
There’s not a lot to go on, and she seems to perk up every now and then, but seems to want to sleep a lot - more than the other 2 chicks. I’ve still got her inside for now. Letting her sleep on my hand and trying to feed and water her when she wakes up. Anyone any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Anyone any thoughts or suggestions?

That's not blood in the poo but it could be a little shed intestinal lining which is very common. When blood comes in poo it's very obvious bright red and more watery.

Not eating much.. could be a sign of crop issues. Can you check how the crop feels.. full and hard, flat and empty. squishy.. any sour smell coming from the beak? Check now, before bed, and again before any food and water is offered to ensure the crop is emptying like it should.

If I was able.. I might take the droppings in for a float to test for parasite load.

I might also administer some B complex vitamins.. they're an incredible boost.

 

[Rachnicko]

Thank you so much for that... I wasn’t too sure, but you’ve put my mind at ease somewhat.

Her crop does change. It felt empty this morning, but I haven’t felt it as full as the other chick’s feel yet - whether that’s due to timing of when she’s eaten or not I’m not sure. She does seem to be eating now, altho she also pecks at her food a bit without eating it - whereas the other chicks seem to be on full “eat” mode. I have seen her eat a couple of bugs offered to her by the broody today too.

I think she’s perked up a bit. She’s more active I think, altho not fully right, so will keep giving the electrolytes.

Is there anything else that has B complex? We don’t have any specifically, but I will try to get some, as sounds like it could be good to keep in anyway. What would the dosage be? I assume they are a tablet suitable for humans, so is it just a case of dissolve a bit and see if we can get her to drink it?

With regard to the poop. I’m in the UK, and not had much luck with vets specialising in chickens. I will try to ring round tomorrow to see if anyone will do a float test unless she’s improved again. Do they have to be fresh samples do you know?

 

[Rachnicko]

Here’s a picture of her lying in the sun with mum earlier after she had seemed to pick up...

 

[Rachnicko]

Sorry to keep posting, but there’s a slight update here.

Zasu seems to be up and down. She picks up, then goes off again wanting to sleep a lot, or just standing almost aimlessly.

I think I found a lump under her beak. She’s the only Polish chick, and the only bearded one as the other 2 are barnyard mixes, but I can’t find any sign of anything similar on the others. It doesn’t seem to hurt her, as you can touch it without her moving away. It’s kind of in her neck, but only just below her beak. It feels firm but I haven’t wanted to press too hard. Her crop is much further down and feels fairly full tonight (but not hard).

She will still eat and drink, and seems to want to (which is good), but seems to struggle. Even after eating she puts her head up (like when she drinks) - as if she struggles to get food down. Plus there is sometimes a quiet clicking / rasping / wheezing sound as she is getting food down. We have been giving her wetted medicated chick crumb, and scrambled egg, plus the electrolyte solution.

Does anyone know if the lump in her neck could be her problem? And what it could be?
I’ve heard of a ruptured air sack but not had chance to do much research yet - could this be the case?