Aspirated chick with wry neck

[Rikku123]

Any advice appreciated.

10 day old chick with wry neck since hatched. I've been tube feeding a mash of chick feed, yolk, electrolytes and probiotics, as well as a little vitamin e with selenium gel.

We tried poultry cell and it upset her stomach really bad and she had terrible diarrhea. She lost 3 grams. Her weight now is 30 grams.

I thought she wasn't going to make it. But it looks like the vitamins are helping. She was starting to stand about an hour ago. And Ive got the diarrhea to stop. We had 2 good normal poops.

But now I hear a clicking sound. I think she aspirated. We where trying to encourage her to drink water on her own and I think that's when it happened. (We do not leave her alone with water)

I'm so invested in this baby.

My question is, should I take her to the vet for her to get possibly antibiotics for the fluid in her lungs?

I've found a vet that see's chickens, but it's $95 to just see the vet.

I'm so conflicted. Any advice appreciated

 

[alinas2010]

Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about your chick, but I’m glad the treatment is working. Wry neck can take quite a few weeks to treat sometimes. It can be very discouraging, but keep at it. Poultry cell too many days in a row can cause diarrhea, yes, so only do that for a few days.

How is the chick doing today? Is her breathing okay? You can get antibiotics from this site if you wish to try to treat her yourself. But as always, a vet is the best option, especially if they’re experienced in treating poultry.

Check that her bedding isn’t too dusty, also, and that isn’t what is causing the respiratory sounds.

https://allbirdproducts.com/collections/chicken-medications

 

[Debbie292d]

@alinas2010 is right about the vitamins. I actually do them every other day for the whole day. I'm mostly using Poultry Cell, especially when it's a chick with issues, but Nutri-Drench is good too.

As for the possible aspiration, as long as she's breathing, that should absorb and clear up. I'd just keep her head up as much as you can, like perhaps prop it on an old rag.

If you could mash up a little scrambled eggs in your mash, that contains enough selenium for the E. By giving it the goat gel, that can OD a chicken easily, and a chick more so.

Pulling for you and your chick!

 

[Rikku123]

Welcome to the site. Sorry to hear about your chick, but I’m glad the treatment is working. Wry neck can take quite a few weeks to treat sometimes. It can be very discouraging, but keep at it. Poultry cell too many days in a row can cause diarrhea, yes, so only do that for a few days.

How is the chick doing today? Is her breathing okay? You can get antibiotics from this site if you wish to try to treat her yourself. But as always, a vet is the best option, especially if they’re experienced in treating poultry.

Check that her bedding isn’t too dusty, also, and that isn’t what is causing the respiratory sounds.

https://allbirdproducts.com/collections/chicken-medications

I just got home from work. She's very lethargic. I picked up some nutridrench and VetRX. I put a little of the Vet Rx on my neck and have cuddled to my neck(shared a pic). She's still clicking.

I also shared a picture of her set up.
Im using the top of her incubator to keep her box warm. And I have a humidity and temperature prob in there to make sure it's maintaining her temp.

I called the vet that see's chickens and the is out the next couple days

I'll check out that site and see if I can order anything to be here quickly.

I honestly don't think she has much longer at this rate

 

[Eggcessive]

Does she have any air under the skin around her neck or sides? Clicking can happen with respiratory issues, but also I saw it in a chick who had been bumped on it’s side, and it has pd a leaking air sac. Those can be needled to press out or remove the air. But only do it if you are sure of that problem. Does the chick drink if you dip her beak into a small cup? I hope that you can save her, but it sounds like she might not make it.

 

[Rikku123]

Does she have any air under the skin around her neck or sides? Clicking can happen with respiratory issues, but also I saw it in a chick who had been bumped on it’s side, and it has pd a leaking air sac. Those can be needled to press out or remove the air. But only do it if you are sure of that problem. Does the chick drink if you dip her beak into a small cup? I hope that you can save her, but it sounds like she might not make it.

No air bubble that I can feel. And she's struggles with drinking. I tube feed her.

 

[alinas2010]

No air bubble that I can feel. And she's struggles with drinking. I tube feed her.

How is she doing today?

 

[Rikku123]

How is she doing today?

She is actually doing much better!!!
She is still very weak, and not gaining as much weight as I would like. But I'm off the next two days and plan on working with her more.

She is still clicking, but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday.

When I got home from work yesterday she was very weak and limp.
Today she is moving around a lot more and chirping more

I got VetRX and put it under her wings and on a qtip near the top of her box.

I also got nutridrench and gave her just a teeny tiny drop mixed with water.

 

[alinas2010]

She is actually doing much better!!!
She is still very weak, and not gaining as much weight as I would like. But I'm off the next two days and plan on working with her more.

She is still clicking, but it's not nearly as bad as yesterday.

When I got home from work yesterday she was very weak and limp.
Today she is moving around a lot more and chirping more

I got VetRX and put it under her wings and on a qtip near the top of her box.

I also got nutridrench and gave her just a teeny tiny drop mixed with water.

I’m really happy to hear that. I hope she pulls through. Were you able to get her a vet appointment or order some antibiotics? Even if you just work with her as you said, maybe she will be okay. Let us know how she does.

 

[Rikku123]

I’m really happy to hear that. I hope she pulls through. Were you able to get her a vet appointment or order some antibiotics? Even if you just work with her as you said, maybe she will be okay. Let us know how she does.

The original vet who i mentioned for $95 is off the rest of the week. I ended up calling like 10 other vets, and only 1 would try to see her for $175!!!! That's just to see the vet.

I can't afford that, so I tired the VetRx and nutri-drench.

I'll keep you posted