3 week old Cornish cross gasping for air...

[newbiechick1]

I have a 3 week old Cornish cross that just started laying around gasping for air this evening. I am new to chickens and have no idea what this is. Since she was intended to be dinner should we not medicate her? Should we cull her in case this is contagious? Any suggestions would be appreciated!

 

[Eggcessive]

Make sure that the bedding is fresh and dry because mold spores can cause aspergillosis or brooder pneumonia. Make sure that there is no ammonia odor, and plenty of good fresh air available. Check her mouth and airway in case she could have gotten something stuck in her trachea. She also could have a heart defect that is causing this, but you may want to isolate her in case she could have caught something from wild birds.

 

[newbiechick1]

We just cleaned the broader on friday. We change the bedding once a week. They always have fresh water and we feed them 12 hours a day. I took the sick one out and put her by herself last night with some water. Doesn't look like she drank but she does look better. Maybe they are crowded? I am thinking of moving them to the coop because they aren't using their heat lamp at all anymore and they have all of their feathers. I don't know...