Another newbie, another question! - Kinda urgent :(

[AmyLynn2374]

Ok, so our little "chirpy" did not make it through the night, despite being up till 3:40am playing "Dr Cam".

But the good news is so far the other 3 are still chirping along happily.

I woke to see my son standing in the kitchen, whispering to himself, I asked him what was wrong "Chirpy is dead dad", but then his face lit up "but dad there's still some alive, I can hear them!". So whilst we lost one, he's still feeling upbeat about it all, taking it very well for a first timer! Although he is a documentary nut, so is well versed with death and such things..

As for counting the days, I did not include day 1. We put them in on Friday the morning and in Australia, it's currently 10am on Monday morning.

And

for the boy. I was wondering how it was going. Kids can be surprising my son has surprised me with some of the losses we've delt with hatching. Especially our very first hatch which was terrible.

Any external pips yet?? I so hope he gets to see some hatching. It's an awesome experience.

 

[lCaml]

Well, we've ended up with 3 chicks who have all successfully hatched so far. Unfortunately, it looks 2 of those 3 have Wry neck One is really bad, and although it was walking around happily, now spends all of it's time on it's back, another one (with curled toes) does walk a bit, but then returns to it's back shortly after I've bought some vitamin E and Selenium and dosed them both up. The 3rd chick, from another hen, is happy as they come. So perhaps it is genetic. The worst of the chicks has both feet in splints, as well as legs, I have lined a cherry tomato container with tissues and propped it up inside. How often should I be trying to get it to eat and drink? It really doesn't seem interested.

We had 1 chick die as it was Malpositioned, I thought it had pipped internally whenI candled it, but after no progress I pipped it externally and it had died. We also had one that I pipped externally yesterday, it was chirping along all day yesterday. I woke this morning to find it had almost broken free, but the membrane seemed dry right out, essentially shrink wrapping the chick, it was on a damp cloth and I had dribbled some water on the membrane earlier on as it appeared dry, I resisted the urge to intervene any further and now regret it! Although it was from the same hen as those with wry neck, so perhaps it is better it didn't survive.

All tough lessons for my little dude who had already named them after they pipped!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Well, we've ended up with 3 chicks who have all successfully hatched so far. Unfortunately, it looks 2 of those 3 have Wry neck One is really bad, and although it was walking around happily, now spends all of it's time on it's back, another one (with curled toes) does walk a bit, but then returns to it's back shortly after I've bought some vitamin E and Selenium and dosed them both up. The 3rd chick, from another hen, is happy as they come. So perhaps it is genetic. The worst of the chicks has both feet in splints, as well as legs, I have lined a cherry tomato container with tissues and propped it up inside. How often should I be trying to get it to eat and drink? It really doesn't seem interested.

We had 1 chick die as it was Malpositioned, I thought it had pipped internally whenI candled it, but after no progress I pipped it externally and it had died. We also had one that I pipped externally yesterday, it was chirping along all day yesterday. I woke this morning to find it had almost broken free, but the membrane seemed dry right out, essentially shrink wrapping the chick, it was on a damp cloth and I had dribbled some water on the membrane earlier on as it appeared dry, I resisted the urge to intervene any further and now regret it! Although it was from the same hen as those with wry neck, so perhaps it is better it didn't survive.

All tough lessons for my little dude who had already named them after they pipped!

Awe. That's not what I was hoping to hear. It does sound genetic or flock related doesn't it? I wouldn't worry too much about it not wanting to eat, the first day or two, but I would offer some sugar water at least hourly. Do you guys have a product called sav a chick over there?? It's an electrolyte powder that goes in the water. (They also have a sav a chick probiotic too.) I use the sav a chick electrolyte in my water for the first couple days after they hatch. I know you can get it on line, just an idea maybe for the next try.

How is the little dude handling it?

 

[lCaml]

Geez, I dunno if I am cut out for this..

The worst chick effected with the wry neck died yesterday afternoon whilst I was feeding it, well actually, giving it some water. I made sure I was holding it properly, but apparently that wasn't enough!

The other chick with wry neck seems to be slightly better, but has still ended up on it's back a couple of times today. Still giving it vitamin E.

Now, the 3rd chick that was happy and healthy, now has 1 gunked up eye, and is walking in circles. I've sectioned off the brooder to isolate it as the other chick was constantly pecking at it, and looks like overnight may have pecked at it's feathers as well, as it seems to be missing a few on 1 wing. I've read all kinds of stuff on here about different infections that can cause this, I'm not too sure how to proceed, I really don't want it infecting the other chick, to then infect the whole flock in time. I have washed it's eye a couple of times now, but after 12 hours it seems to be gunked back up, help

I have never heard of sav a chick, but the local vet is pretty good, so I'll ask her and see what she says.

This has been the biggest rollercoaster ride for my boy, from thinking none were going to hatch on day 22, to then the excitement possibly 5, then 4 pipped, then 3 lived, and now finally 2 left.He's done pretty well considering, its just been so bloody stressful! I honestly think I'll just buy week old chicks next time..

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Geez, I dunno if I am cut out for this..

The worst chick effected with the wry neck died yesterday afternoon whilst I was feeding it, well actually, giving it some water. I made sure I was holding it properly, but apparently that wasn't enough!

The other chick with wry neck seems to be slightly better, but has still ended up on it's back a couple of times today. Still giving it vitamin E.

Now, the 3rd chick that was happy and healthy, now has 1 gunked up eye, and is walking in circles. I've sectioned off the brooder to isolate it as the other chick was constantly pecking at it, and looks like overnight may have pecked at it's feathers as well, as it seems to be missing a few on 1 wing. I've read all kinds of stuff on here about different infections that can cause this, I'm not too sure how to proceed, I really don't want it infecting the other chick, to then infect the whole flock in time. I have washed it's eye a couple of times now, but after 12 hours it seems to be gunked back up, help

I have never heard of sav a chick, but the local vet is pretty good, so I'll ask her and see what she says.

This has been the biggest rollercoaster ride for my boy, from thinking none were going to hatch on day 22, to then the excitement possibly 5, then 4 pipped, then 3 lived, and now finally 2 left.He's done pretty well considering, its just been so bloody stressful! I honestly think I'll just buy week old chicks next time..

Bring him over here, I've got 20 eggs in the bator now, he can help me hatch.

My boy would love it...lol I'm so sorry to hear you are having such rotten luck. That really is crappy. I'm at a loss now. I don't know what to tell you. I can't believe the one that was doing so well is having problems now. I would definitely keep it seperated. You said that you've read about a different infections that could casue it, do any or a majority of those give the same directions for care/medicine maybe an antibiotic?

 

[AmyLynn2374]

Hey Cam! How are things going?? Any better??

 

[lCaml]

I think I am just delaying the inevitable...

The chick that started out 'healthy', still has a VERY gunked up eye, I have to clean it twice / 3 times a day, it sounds a little raspy when breathing but is eating and drinking well.. The other chick, has no issues with it's eyes, but does shake it's head a bit, and has a very small amount of blood that comes from it's nose..

All reading points too Infectious Laryngotracheitis, but these chicks have never ever been in contact with other chickens, so I am not sure how they could of contracted it, unless I carried it inside from my flock (I do have 1 'sneezy' hen, but then again it is winter here), or from the brooder box / incubator I borrowed.

I am trying to arrange some week old chicks to buy, and these little fellas will probably end up culled.. Given the signs this early on, it seems like the right thing to do...

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I think I am just delaying the inevitable...

The chick that started out 'healthy', still has a VERY gunked up eye, I have to clean it twice / 3 times a day, it sounds a little raspy when breathing but is eating and drinking well.. The other chick, has no issues with it's eyes, but does shake it's head a bit, and has a very small amount of blood that comes from it's nose..

All reading points too Infectious Laryngotracheitis, but these chicks have never ever been in contact with other chickens, so I am not sure how they could of contracted it, unless I carried it inside from my flock (I do have 1 'sneezy' hen, but then again it is winter here), or from the brooder box / incubator I borrowed.

I am trying to arrange some week old chicks to buy, and these little fellas will probably end up culled.. Given the signs this early on, it seems like the right thing to do...

I hate the idea of culling, but I think you're probably right. How is your son doing with it all? Is there anything you can treat the rest with, just as a precaution??

 

[drumstick diva]

Even if you cull them , you probably cannot eliminate all sources of re-infection. I wouldn't want to bring in new birds, till I knew what the ill ones have and if it could be treated successfully. They certainly could have caught something from your "sneezy: hen. That is why birds need to be quarantined and you need to wash well when going between chicken areas and also changing clothes and shoes. Especially shoes.

 

[lCaml]

Thanks for the replies..

My boy has taken it all pretty well, but I've not yet told him there will be no new chickens for the conceivable future..

I didn't notice the sneezy hen until the other day, Jaiden said he saw a chicken 'being funny' a while ago, when I saw the chicken sneeze he said "hey look, it's being funny again!". It then hit me it's potentially been sick for a while. Although other than the sneezes, it has not real other symptoms that I have noticed. They all seem healthy other than the sneezer, they eat well, drink well and free range happily. It is winter here, but we still have a few that are happily laying.

As for knowing what they have, I am in a rural area, so accessing these kinds of things require substantial travel, and expense, all things that are hard given our financial situation.

The hardest part, is that our chickens were given to us from some people who were leaving town and moving interstate, and they were much loved pets of their kids, they whole reason they gave them to us was so that the went to a home where they would not end up on the dinner plate, which is exactly where they are now headed..

Even if I culled them, how on earth would I ever be sure that their pen is infection free? They live in a wooden horse stable which we line with pine shavings, I would imagine I am just as likely to reinfect any new chickens ever after culling my flock.

Do I just deal with the fact I am going to always have sick chickens?! Do I cull them all and start again? I already have a few older ones that are past the point of laying, but others are only ~1yr old. I dunno what to do, other then just give up, entirely.

This sucks