Bloating in Chicks??! HELP!

JennyPatty84

Chirping
Sep 6, 2016
59
33
96
Hi Everyone!

I am in desperate need of advice! I hatched 5 Coppers Marans chicks one week ago and everyone (but one) has been happy, healthy, acting like normal chicks and growing. The one that isn't just won't eat yet, so I have been force feeding her - otherwise she's happy and active.

Yesterday all was good for the day and then I went down to check on them before bed and one of my bigger ones was having difficulty breathing. I realized she was double her size and when I picked her up she felt like a balloon. Her abdomen was very large and filled with air. We ended up putting her down so she wouldn't suffer. Today, my second largest chick is also near death. I don't know what to do or what has caused this? I have hatched a fair number of chicks and never had an issue. Has anyone heard of this? :( :(

Here are some details:
The are eating a brand-new bag of medicated chick starter
They have fresh water all the time and I put electrolytes in it
They do not have pasty bum - even the one that's bloating right now and can barely move just passed stool
They were literally, happy, running, scratching, active, jumping at the other chicks feet when I tried to force feed her to bloating and dying.
So far it was my two chicks that were the biggest and hatched a day early this has happened to
 
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How does the poop look?
Photos may be helpful.
How is the crop in the bloated chick - is it empty, full, soft/pliable, etc.?

You mention the abdomen is filled with air? It could be a ruptured air sac.

Are you brooding these chicks the same way you have always done it - anything different this time (location, type of bulb, bedding, etc.)? Just trying to rule out teflon coated light bulbs, ventilation problems, etc.

I would not try to give the bloated one any food. If she is dehydrated, you can drop water on the side of her beak - drop by drop and see if she will take it in - no forcing water, let the chick take it.

Chickens have 9 air sacs - there is an abdominal air sac which could have been ruptured or may be infected.

Just some guesses.
 
Just a note, this second chick did end up passing away later this morning. :(

Poop looked normal. Maybe a decreased amount - but it's hard to compare with chicks.

The crop was bloated as well - completely filled with air.

Everything is exactly the same as other chicks I have hatched in the past. The only change is that I bought a new bag of medicated feed for them.
 
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Just a note, this second chick did end up passing away later this morning. :(

Poop looked normal. Maybe a decreased amount - but it's hard to compare with chicks.
The crop was bloated as well - completely filled with air.
Everything is exactly the same as other chicks I have hatched in the past. The only change is that I bought a new bag of medicated feed for them.
I'm sorry you lost this one too.

I would be hard to guess what happened. The only way to find out for sure would be to refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab for testing. You can find your state info here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Hopefully this is something that only affected these 2 and the rest remain happy and healthy.
 
I'm sorry you lost this one too.

I would be hard to guess what happened. The only way to find out for sure would be to refrigerate the body and send it to your state lab for testing. You can find your state info here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

Hopefully this is something that only affected these 2 and the rest remain happy and healthy.

Thank you for the state link, but I actually live in Canada. Here’s to hoping the other three survive, the poor little buggers it kills me when they get sick!
 

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