2 chicks sneezing- 1 making clicking noises and losing new feathers!?

[allmypeeps]

Ok, I had one lonely 3 week old light brahma chick. She had been sneezing off and on only a couple times/day, for a few days. Nothing else out of norm.

4 days ago I got another chick, same size but slightly older (as she is a silkie) I noticed right when I got her she was sneezing also. I got her at the chickenstock we just had. I placed them together so I could treat them together and so they would not be lonely.

I am thinking that was a BAD idea.

Its been 3 and a half days since I introduced them and the newer chick in addition to the sneezes also has a 'clicking' sound coming from her beak. I am not sure what it is as her nostrils look clean save for an occasional clear wetness after she sneezes. Also I noticed her losing some feathers here and there which is odd as she is a baby and should not be losing the feathers she is just getting in. She has feathers over most of her body except her head is still 'fluff'- but I am getting concerned as she has shed about 4 of her new feathers- looked like they hadnt even fully emerged from the shaft yet as the lost feathers were not fully formed, had long long shaft and with feathering just at the tip. Could the clicking and the feather issue just be a 'silkie' thing- I have never had a silkie before.

Should I separate them or is it too late? They scream when I try as they have bonded so well together and I don't want them to get stressed as it won't help.

I am not sure what to do...

I currently am putting 1/8 tsp terramycin into 1/8 gallon(2 cups) H20. I may also put some chinese immune boosting herbs in their food that I got from my vet for some sick foster kittens I had.

They appear fine otherwise, eating, drinking, grooming, fluttering around happily....Does it sound like a specific condition? Or do chicks just sometimes get simple colds like any of us? I am nervous all this reading I have been doing on chronic respitory and other issues that never go away. I had planned on intoducing them to my other hens when old enough...Should I bring them to my vet for testing?

I consider my birds family pets and do NOT want to discuss culling. So don't even bring it up please (not asking I am telling here- DO NOT bring it up) That discussion- if it comes to it- is only welcome between myself and my vet.

Thanks in advance for helpful advice!

e

 

[threehorses]

You can also use VetRx on their little nares to help with that breathing problem. You want their sinuses to open because bacteria hate oxygen. The clicking you hear is the phlegm in their system popping open as the air tries to get through.

Now that you've started antibiotics, you must do them at least 7 days or as the label instructs. It's too late to pull them apart and they might enjoy one another's company.

They probably didn't have one another's immunities.

However, something very very important. Using antibiotics on such young chicks is going to totally destroy the bacterial colonies in their guts taht they're barely establishing. If you don't have medicated (amprolium) food, it's a good idea. You'll want to use probiotics for these babies during your antibiotic use and every other day for at least two weeks afterwards. DO NOT USE YOGURT if you're using this medicine. You'll inactivate the medicine.

Use a ***non-dairy*** probiotic if you can get it. If not, use one that only has a bit. Try acidophilus from the health food store, Probios or Fastrak will work (from the feed store).

Also, if you want, you can give them a little mashed egg yolk. A good mixture is the probiotics dosage, a bit of egg yolk, chick crumbles, and some water so that the crumbles are not gushy but wet enough to be tempting to the chicks - softened. After the antibiotics are done, you can go to plain yogurt if you want. If you have none of the other probiotics avaiable, just start the plain yogurt 1/4th teaspoon per cup of food the day after the last antibiotics and do for two weeks.

Hope this helps! The feather loss is probably just bad health at the moment. What are you feeding them?

 

[allmypeeps]

Thanks for the advice,

I don't see any sign of plugged nares. They are clean and dry unless a big sneeze comes on then there is just mild 'wet' that then goes away....

I was going to head to the store tomorrow and see what probiotics I can find.

The brahma came from a farm that got them from a hatchery (I got her when she was 3 days old) she's been an only chick and still was when she started to sneeze about 2 weeks old.

She was 2 and a half weeks when we got the new chick (who's about 4+ weeks) we had already planned on getting this new chick and arranged for her to be at the chicken stock. She was with some teeny tiny chicks. I'm not sure when or how her problem came about but she was already sneezy when I picked her up.

I have only had the new one 3 days so I have no idea what she was eating prior. I have them on blue seal medicated chick starter crumbles. Everyones poops are normal. and they are all clean.

I have never had sick chicks before. I read the symptoms page, but its got me freaked out thinking its CRD and such- should I be nervous intoducing them to the flock when they are older? could it be just a simple cold that will resolve and not make them permanent 'carriers of illness'...??

I also read this under soluable terramycin dosage: 1T per G of water for 10-14 daysminimum, combine 1/4t vitamins or 1 cup cranberry juice. May be combined with Erymycin for respiratory problems.

does T mean table spoon and t mean teaspoon. I'm confused as I read on another post to give 1.5 teaspoons per gal...I am so confused on how much to give....

 

[threehorses]

Good on the nares! That's awesome news. They can pick up viruses from other birds in the free ranging experience. Hopefully, as they do so, they'll develop immunities. Just remember that if you ever add birds to your flock: the other birds will have different immunities, and they'll all swap bugs.

Before you do it, a week or so, just boost their immunity with probiotics, vitamins and electrolytes or wheat germ oil (1 capful to 4 cups of food - my favorite - stirred in very thoroughly), and just watch them carefully. Sometimes they do nothing, sometimes they have various signs of whatever they're swapping.

I would ****not**** give antibiotics. You're not seeing a sign of any real bacterial infection yet. Giving antibiotics preemptively is worse than giving them a little late. Much much worse. (On this, don't listen to the feedstores or - for that matter - most of the websites online who glean their information from industrial poultry companies who medicate before illness because of money considerations.)

 

[sammi]

I think I'd feed them good, give chick vitamins, a little egg and boosts as posted..they have been stressed and lowered immune system.
and the Vetrx..
some like to use Oxine..available at:

http://www.firststatevetsupply.com/store/

clicking noise can be from phlegm..
adult birds will click when stressed..not sure if chicks do..

see how they do..

could the other chick be pecking the feathers?
what are using for bedding?

 

[allmypeeps]

I have them indoors in a brooder lined with soft towels which I shake out and launder regularly.

The vet I work for is a natural vet so I have been giving them chinese herbs (wei qi booster) to strengthen their immune system.

I may stop the terramycin if everyone thinks thats best- I just keep reading posts about dying chicks and I don't want to lose mine to too! I hear things can come on fast...

My husband has my car becuz his wouldnt start so I have to wait for him to get home from work before I can venture to the local Paris Farmer's Union. My area tends not to carry alot of options for livestock. I will see if they have the VetRx and some fastrack though...
I already know not to trust the advice of 'most' feed store employees I have had a few 'huh? that doesnt make sense' moments after speaking with them- LOL

Thanks so much 'three and sammi'

These are our girls, Nellie and Monkie sitting on my husband's shoulder. They are super friendly and we are 'attatched' you could say (gotta love them to let allow them to poo on you like that!

LOL)so I may be overly worried about this 'sneezing and clicking business!' But I will try to just support their immune systems and see what happens....I just know how fragile they can be at this age....

e

 

[threehorses]

You can't - well very much shouldn't - stop the terramycin once you've started it. You have to keep going or later if you really have to use it, it'll be ineffective. Never stop antibiotics unless the bird has a reaction to them. But once you start, keep going for the full length of time recommended on the package.

I like the idea of the natural herbs as an addition.

So how are they today?

 

[sammi]

I agree...terramycin does tend to be a weaker antibiotic..
McMurray catalog suggests 2 teaspoons per gallon of water.
if no improvement..you might have to go to something stronger..
do give the vits..
if you can't easily find chick vits..you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins..Enfamil brand, no iron..2 drops on beak once a day for a week.
in the meantime..try and get some chick vitamins..

have you checked the mouth and throat of the clicking chick for lesions, plaque, cheesy substance or mucus?


any chance it could be dusts or something causing a reaction?
using softener when you wash the brooder towels?

 

[allmypeeps]

Ok- I went to Paris Farmer's Union and they were clueless. two kids told me that they have never heard of fastrak and its not in their computer system, they also said they dont know of anything with pribiotics or vitamins for chickens. ???

They also said the LAMEST thing- they asked if I was giving medicated chick starter and if I was that I would be all set that should take care of EVERYTHING!!?? I said I thought that was just in prevention of coccidiosis? then they looked at me liek they had NO IDEA what coccidia was.... DUH!!!

BUT an older employee came over and said they DO sometimes carry fastrak but had none at that time. AND that he DID have a package of Durvet electrolyte/vitamin...(not according to the doofasses!) so I bought it and have been adding that to their water. They didnt have any VetyRx he said to use vicks vapour rub-I told him not a good idea due to the camphor...he just shrugged and said maybe I could go browse a health food store. I will most likely have to buy this stuff online however by the time I get it they may be healthy!

I think everyone at the feed store thought I was nuts looking for these items, They actuallysaid "uh, most peoepl don't really care if a few chicks don't make it".... !!??!!

I only had the terrymycin in their water a day and a half.....I noticed one poo looked liek it had a smidge of intestinal lining in it (according to poo pics I've seen here) So I didnt give it today...I rather not keep it up if I don't have to...maybe I can buy something else if I need to later on....

They seem to be sneezing noticeabley less...(just as I say that they will sneeze!) but the silkie is still making a constant 'click' noise. I checked inside her mouth, nostrils, sniffed her beak for odors...NOTHING! She's not stressed- she seems happy and content.

I do use dryer sheets- but I noticed the clicking and sneezing when I got her (before I brought her home even). So bizaare! I will stop the dryer sheets anyway...

Thanks so much for your posts!

e

 

[threehorses]

Ok, i'm going to say this again = this time with more cowbell:

*** Once you start an antibiotic, do NOT stop it*** Instead, you givve probiotics (and not yogurt if you're giving any ---mycin drug or ---cycline drugs).

It causes problems that will manifest, if not immediately further down the road. BUt now that you've stopped it, don't start it again. Just never, please, ever ever stop antibiotics mid course. That goes for any creature.

The ****only**** time you stop is if the bird has a reaction - a real reaction like an allergic reaction, etc.

Oh yeah and it looks like the feedstores of Paris are just as clueless as American ones.

Something that unites the world. You can ask them for probiotics for horses. They will have a different brand there. If not, look for acidophilus capsules for humans in the grocery store. Acidophilus transcends language.

Frustating, huh? Are they better?