3 day old gasping for air

[birdlover]

Wow, AF, you've had quite a time lately, what with the wild baby bird and this!!! You know, if you think more are coming down with the same symptoms, I'd be very tempted to take the first chick to the vet so that I could find out what is wrong and avoid losing a lot more. Just a thought. I hope all ends happily!!!

Ellen

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Well, I had thought another was coming down with the same thing, but was wrong. After watching a bit longer, the 2nd chick was indeed fine. Guess I was getting paranoid!

This poor little chick is still jerking it's head up constantly. It has no control over this movement. I just looked in on it and she is cuddled up in a stuffed animals lap, I assume asleep, but still the head moves...

 

[TheOLDNewChick]

I'm really no help in the matter, but the chick I recently lost was doing the exact same thing after presumably falling into the water, the head jerking, the "gasping" movements, but none of the other chicks seemed to show it. I hope you find out more and I hope the little one gets better!

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Boy was I wrong!! The 2nd chick that I had originally thought was coming down with the same symptoms, but then decided was fine ended up dead this a.m.
The first little chick with the head jerk thing is still the same. I finally decided to force feed some starter. I just placed a piece of it in its beak and watched as she swallowed it. She didn't appreciate the food at all, but I kept it up and ultimately quit after giving her about 7-8 pieces of food and several drinks in between. I didn't figure it was enough food, but the chick was getting pretty perturbed with me. I thought I'd give her an hour or two and do it again. When I came back, I noticed her pecking at her food and was actually able to get a few bites in. It looked like hard work with all that head bobbing going on.
Sooo- this is good news, finally. I'm still giving drinks with a dropper because I have not seen her drink on her own, but I am hopeful this will all work out.
I see no improvement physically, but the little girl seems strong even though I can tell she's lost a bit of weight.
I wonder if she will continue this head jerking/bobbing thing into adulthood? I am still clueless as to what caused this or what to do about it.

 

[allen wranch]

Missi,
I am so sorry you are having such problems right now with your flock. It will pass, and things will be OK again.

Something that has worked successfully in the past for neurological disorders (and possible botulism or vitamin deficiency) is giving liquid baby vitamins like Poly-Vi-Sol.

Medicinal dosage is for 12 days:
1 drop twice a day for 3 days
1/2 drop twice a day for 3 days
1/4 drop twice a day for 3 days
1/4 drop once a day for 3 days

Good luck with your baby. Hope she gets better.

 

[Slim]

It really sounds like you've got a good handle on it, and your doing all the right things. Sorry about the "fine" one dying. I hope it's not contagious.

Oh, I think I've read that sometimes a chick will hatch out, but then die of a bacterial infection that started in the shell. The sort of bacteria growth that presents as a ring growing in the shell, visible when candling the eggs.
Don't have a clue as to whether or not thats the case, just thought I'd throw that out there.

Good Luck-
Slim

 

[dlhunicorn]

It is hard to narrow down as so many of the same symptoms will occur with many things...giving the polyvisol will not harm and is beneficial in many things (particularly when they are not eating. In addition to the suggestions which have already been made, do you disinfect your brooder between each hatch??? (this is very important)...you might also try a new sack of feed as mycotoxin may have occured or such...

 

[eggchel]

Try this link.

http://www.birdcareco.com/USA/USAAr...Arts/US_Chick_Problems/us_chick_problems.html



chel

 

[AccidentalFarm]

Thanks for the advice all. I don't have poly-vi-sol, but I did pick up some bird vitamins 'for small birds'- it was all I could find. Do you think it's okay for a chick? I can go to the supermarket and get the baby vitamins. (Wish I'd read the posts mentioning it before I went and hunted down the other stuff.)

Anyway, I'm happy to report that the peep has improved drastically today. She still has the head bobbing, but it seems only to happen when she is really active. This leads me to believe that it is, in fact, occurring with each breath and maybe not a neurological thing. Either way, when rested, the movement is hardly noticable, if there at all. I brought her and a few of the other peeps out of the brooders and placed them in the floor with a bowl of food and water. After watching the other peeps eat, she followed suit. I was hoping that the 'monkey see, monkey do' thing would work- and it did. YAY!

I then decided to put her in to the large brooder for a bit and see how she did. Dummy me sprayed her feet with blue-kote so that I would be able to tell her from the rest and all that ended up doing was to make the other peeps want to peck at her toes...so, she's back in her hospital brooder, but with just one peep to keep her company. (How long does it take for blue-kote to wear off?)

I noticed a bit of peculiar behavior from her when I had put her back in the large brooder- she seemed to really want to snuggle in under the other peeps wings. She does this with my hands when I hold her, too. I don't know what to make of it.

Hopefully she will continue to get better. I sure wish I knew what disease/illness/whatever this is that we are dealing with.

 

[bayouchica]

So glad to hear she's getting a little better.

She might just want to snuggle to feel safe & comfy.

Miriam