2 week old chick, puffed feathers, breathing heavily

[dfillingham]

Hi everyone I know there are a couple threads on this...and I've read through and done the best I can, but figured it wouldn't hurt to post something as well.

Last Thursday evening, one of my speckled sussex pullets was looking super lethargic, would lay down a lot, feathers were puffed up, and she was panting/breathing really heavily. he brooder is about 85 degrees right now with ample room for them to cool themselves off.

I noticed some reddish poop, so went out and got some Corid on Friday. Per another forum's suggestion, I gave her a drop orally, and then medicated the water in the brooder until this morning. She perked up a bit over the weekend and started eating and drinking a little. However it's been a week later and she is still breathing heavily and isn't as active as the other two (who have doubled in size). Is it possible that she has a respiratory infection? Should I go get some meds or put ACV in the water?

Thanks in advance for the advice.

 

[Judy]

Welcome to our forum!

Stay on the Corid. It won't always work for everyone and does no harm. Don't put anthing else in the water with the Corid.

Here are a couple of threads that I hope will help.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/775739/blood-in-older-chicks-stool#post_11087272

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/792579/just-found-a-dead-chick/20#post_11436103

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...and-now-a-buggery-nose-on-my-roo#post_9778598 (esp. post 9)

Good luck!

 

[dfillingham]

Doh I didn't see your post so went and got ACV for the communal waterer and duramycin.

I haven't seen any reddish poop since they've been on corid for almost a week and most forums say treat for 5 days. She was making a clicking sound and still breathing hard so I gave her half a dropper of duramycin.... I hope I'm not over medicating

 

[dfillingham]

An update on the sick chick. All chicks have been on Corid for about a week and a half (1tsp to half gallon) in their drinking water. I've been giving the sick chick Duramycin orally via a dropper. She's seemed to gain a little weight, and is eating (not as much as the two others). She's still breathing a little heavily, and still lethargic. Her poop seems to be a bright green, which I read in another forum could be due to excess bile since she isn't eating as much. I'm going to continue giving her the duramycin daily (I read 7-14 days), and I started giving her some runny yogurt too.

Any other suggestions or should I just wait it out and hope she gets better?

 

[Elaine Elder]

Add Probiotics.
Antibiotics kill the good with the bad.

 

[dfillingham]

Thanks! Do you have a suggestion for probiotics? Currently I'm giving her some plain watered down yogurt.

 

[Suzie]

Buttermilk is great...probiotics!!!