I am really happy to be part of this huge group of chicken lovers. I hope to learn from your experiences and will share what I can. I have I have around 49 laying hens and have 24 -2 month old chicks. I have raised hens for 3 years I am experiencing my first sickness with my new chicks. None of the vets really take care of chickens here and the feed stores that I know of just dont have a clue after loosing 2 chicks this morning to I have no idea what I searched and found you. I hope that I learn how to communicate correctly, Needless to say I am sad for the loss and so here is whats up. May be several things. First last week I saw some bubbles around the eyes dry kind of crusty eyes. Thought maybe they pecked at each other or scratched their eyes on the sharp weed thorns. They were acting fine. Yesterday they were puffed up and looking weird. The crops were puffed on some and I had noticed that off and on, I thought they were cold. At night we move them from their outdoor cage to a cage up where the rats can't get them and I noticed oned looked really commatose. Again thought it was sleeping. Today she was dead and then I tried to save the second one by making her drink water whatever I could and she hung but just lost her. In the mean time I put the apple cider vinegar in one water and then sugar in another as that was all I could read to do. I went to the feed store got some tetracycline that is ALL they had and sterilized their water and started that/ I also moved them from the area. Now I sit and wait. They seem perkier. So I read sour crop and did put them upside down and emptied their crops on a few chicks. Then I thought maybe the air sac disease. ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEAS ON THIS. I hate to jump in with a problem and am excited to spend time on BYC
