Baby Chicks

[mxnick124]

SO I have 2 things going on with my new babies. They are 3wks on Monday.

1. I have one the is gasping for air. I believe she has brooder pneumonia. She still eats and drinks. I've seen a couple post on here about using garlic so I'm going to try that today.
2. I have one that is half the size of her sisters. She starting to get feathers but I very small. She really isn't much bigger than the day I go her. She very active like the others but just isn't growing.

Just wondering if anyone had any words of wisdom. The last time I bought chicken I just put them in a water tank, put a heat lamp on them, gave them food and water and NO issues what so ever.

 

[dawg53]

1. Ensure your brooder is cleaned often, soiled litter removed. If you're using shavings, it's possible the chick may have swallowed a small shaving. As long as she is eating and drinking normally, I'd just observe her.
2. She's a runt, genetic. I have a runt Black Star chick. As long as she's eating, drinking normally, running around...nothing to worry about.

 

[mxnick124]

I clean it completely out every weekend. Wash all things in it.
Have you heard about using garlic in the water? Wife is picking some up at the store today.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can you post some photos of your brooder, the chicks, their poop, etc.?
A video of the gasping chick may be useful. Upload to youtube and provide a link.

 

[mxnick124]

 

[mxnick124]

Looks like this. Not my bird but doing the same thing.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I believe she has brooder pneumonia

Aspergillosis (brooder pneumonia) is a fungal respiratory disease. I would make sure there's good ventilation, bedding is dry, no mold in the brooder (look around your water station and at the feed) and droppings are cleaned up to reduce ammonia.

The gasping is concerning, it very well could be viral (Infectious Bronchitis, ILT) or a bacterial disease (Mycoplasma) as well.
Hard to know.

I suppose garlic would not hurt anything, I am not familiar with how effective it is against illness.

IF you are dealing with something like Infectious Bronchitis, then an antibiotic would not help. Sometimes folks do administer them to treat secondary bacterial infection.
Mycoplasma symptoms can be treated with antibiotics, but you don't mention mucous or watery eyes.

I would also get a good look at the poop. See if the chick can drink, she needs to stay hydrated. Feel her crop, see if it's emptying. It would also be worth looking inside the beak just in case she has a blockage or mucous.

https://thepoultrysite.com/disease-guide/aspergillosishttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044