Aspergillus

[EJZett]

Has anyone successfully treated this fungus in new born chicks. I apparently received infected eggs from a hatchery. My own personal eggs from my hens, in the same incubator & brooder were fine. This one from a hatchery is showing signs of Aspergillus. I know alcohol kills the fungus. Any suggestions for now or future? This chick will probably die in the next couple days?

 

[nuthatched]

Hi there. What symptoms are your chicks showing?
I'm not sure fungal infections can be transferred to the egg.
Here's some threads you can read.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...-what-do-i-do-for-them.1324313/#post-21598931

 

[EJZett]

Symptoms are gasping for air, neck in the air. 24 hours later eyes are swollen shut.

From what I have read on Google Aspergillus can come from a contaminated incubator, which probably would have affected all chicks. Also I have read "Infections can also occur when infected eggs hatch during incubation and release large numbers of spores which are inhaled by other chicks." Not sure what they mean by "infected eggs" but that is the conclusion that I reached. This chick hatched 24 hours before the others, but in the same incubator. I was doing fine for the first 3 days.

 

[seminolewind]

I don't know quite how to answer this. Years ago I had a hen named Valerie. She was always healthy and never any trouble. I sent her body to a lab for a full necropsy. The result was she had aspergillus in her lungs and on her heart. I guess her immune system was poor, and I don't know why.

What I do know is for chickens and even people, it is very very hard to get rid of it. It requires a long time on antibiotics.

That's all I know. I've really never heard of chicks getting it from a contaminated incubator, but I guess it does happen. Sorry

 

[EJZett]

I have read that antibiotics is not necessarily good. Although it helps with the immune system it kills bacteria and gives the fungus more surface area on which to grow. Chick is still alive today. Actually doing a little better. Or maybe it is my imagination and hope. Yesterday I decided I had nothing to lose and tried giving it some mouthwash. The logic being that alcohol kills Aspergillus fungus. The other option was a humane death in the freezer. Am I crazy? I have raised over a hundred chicks with no problems so dealing with issues like this is new to me.

 

[seminolewind]

I have read that antibiotics is not necessarily good. Although it helps with the immune system it kills bacteria and gives the fungus more surface area on which to grow. Chick is still alive today. Actually doing a little better. Or maybe it is my imagination and hope. Yesterday I decided I had nothing to lose and tried giving it some mouthwash. The logic being that alcohol kills Aspergillus fungus. The other option was a humane death in the freezer. Am I crazy? I have raised over a hundred chicks with no problems so dealing with issues like this is new to me.

I'm sorry about what you're going through. You're very knowledgeable. What I have used for years is death by vodka. But not a chick is so small. IMO the freezer is not for me, it doesn't sound humane to me. I have euthanized chicks before and used a sharp knife to do it. It makes me sad but suffering is sadder.