Chick is shakeing and has sickly sweet breath. Please help! Frirst timer!

[lojo]

Hi, I have a Rhode Island red chick who is about 1 week old named Dotts and is a medium size/weight. She is trembling slightly some times it more intense, Her breath (?) smells sickly sweet like a really sugary cereal that's been in milk for a few hours. She is usually sleeping every time I check on her and usually doesn't fuss to much when I pick her up like she used to and my 3 other Rhodes do. She seemed sleepy for a few days then a night ago I noticed her breath and trembling. None of my other chicks are like this! I don't know if the chicks are vaccinated or not we got them from Big R. She recently has stopped drink or eating (at least when I'm around) and I haven't seen her poop for a while either! Just because I'm a nervous first time parent I've been putting a little bit of apple cider vinegar into their water (and their not on medicated feed because we accidentally bought a 50 pound non-medicated. To make up for it I've been cleaning everything daily). I use pine shavings and spot check it in the morning then replace all of it in the evening. My family and I are tight on cash so would like to do it ourselves but if I need to take her in I will. Please this is my first little flock and I want all eight to make it (I've grown fiercely attached to all of them). Please anything helps!!!

 

[Haunted55]

Hi, I have a Rhode Island red chick who is about 1 week old named Dotts and is a medium size/weight. She is trembling slightly some times it more intense, Her breath (?) smells sickly sweet like a really sugary cereal that's been in milk for a few hours. She is usually sleeping every time I check on her and usually doesn't fuss to much when I pick her up like she used to and my 3 other Rhodes do. She seemed sleepy for a few days then a night ago I noticed her breath and trembling. None of my other chicks are like this! I don't know if the chicks are vaccinated or not we got them from Big R. She recently has stopped drink or eating (at least when I'm around) and I haven't seen her poop for a while either! Just because I'm a nervous first time parent I've been putting a little bit of apple cider vinegar into their water (and their not on medicated feed because we accidentally bought a 50 pound non-medicated. To make up for it I've been cleaning everything daily). I use pine shavings and spot check it in the morning then replace all of it in the evening. My family and I are tight on cash so would like to do it ourselves but if I need to take her in I will. Please this is my first little flock and I want all eight to make it (I've grown fiercely attached to all of them). Please anything helps!!!

It sounds like it may be Coryza or one of the other respiratory infections, but I am not 100% sure of this. Are you able to purchase an antibiotic? I would go for the Tylan 50 for this, you can get it at Tractor Supply. Dawg53 recommends giving 1/2cc Tylan 50 once a day for 5 days for respiratory infections. I trust this person's recommendations completely. This is the quick answer.....

The smell you describe is a little different from what I would consider a "foul" smell as described under the symptoms of Coryza. It brings to mind a yeast thing, but I am not sure! I am hoping someone with a lot more experience than I have answers you soon.

 

[lojo]

If I do start her on antibiotics should I give some to my other chicks just to stay safe or is that dangerous? thank you!

 

[Haunted55]

If I do start her on antibiotics should I give some to my other chicks just to stay safe or is that dangerous? thank you!

If this chick is with the others, they have been exposed already and yes, should be treated as well. I would do this, get some Duramycin-10 at your feed store, Tractor Supply, where ever...1/2 tbls. per gallon of water, changing the water every 24 hours, for 7-14 days. Having never used the Tylan myself, I hesitate to tell you to use that with birds this young. The Duramycin is safe and is around $6.00 a packet. You should see improvement in 2-3 days if this is going to work. I'm thinking this may be a sinus issue as you haven't said anything about coughing. What do the droppings of the others look like? Do you have them in a brooder? What's the temperature where you're keeping them? You say she isn't eating and drinking, have you tried using a dropper to get fluid into her? Carefully! A drop at a time so she doesn't aspirate the water and end up with pneumonia. I've even used my little finger to give a drop on the side of their beak and let them take it in themselves. You need to get her drinking, this is the most important thing right now.

I will add this, when they get to this point, sometimes there is nothing you can do to bring them back. Try, I've done it a few times, but it's time consuming as you need to make sure that little one is getting water ever 30 mins. and with this one, it may have to be more often, depending on how much you can get into her each time. Some Sav-a-Chick would help as well. Right around 2.49 a pack of three envelopes. I woud make sure that she gets one drop of medicine and one drop of vitamin water each time, increasing as she allows. If all you can do is the one or two drops at a time, do it every 10-15 mins.. I usually just sit and hold them for a while and just keep trying, letting them rest in between. If you can get the vitamins into her as well as the antibiotic, she should perk up and be able to drink on her own soon. Good luck and please keep the thread updated.

 

[lojo]

Ok! Thank you ! I watched her for an hour or two after I posted that and she started eating and drinking! But not as much as I would like but hey it's something ha... When I did see her poop it was firm and formed but light green though not like super light with black specs? The rest are are all healthy still growing faster and faster! I can't believe how quick they get their feathers! Right Now they are living in my laundry room with their nice big lamp on so those who get colder can be under it while some of my bigger chicks can move away if they star getting to hot and I believe its about at 85 where they sleep/semi-sun themselves. They have been sneezing but not constantly so I'm chalking that up to the shavings and feed... plus no discharge... nobody has been couching... I have been trying to find their crops but their chest feathers are coming in and its getting tricky for me... but nobody Else is showing her symptoms. She is still shaking a bit and the smell seemed better last night but checking her now its gotten a little stronger and she seems a little more tired. Thank you for your help I really appreciate it! If it is a sinus infection still do the antibiotics, yes?

 

[lojo]

Ok quick update!

I have found a better smell to describe My chicks breath... recently spoiled milk. & I now have the electrolytes and duramycin-10... Once I start the antibiotics should I be giving a little plain yogurt to replace some of the good germs in them?

 

[Haunted55]

You may have to change the antibiotic up to the Tylan 50 for her. It can be given orally and I would go back to my 'quick answer' above and use that dosing.

I know you are unable to run out and get all kinds of different antibiotics. I've been there and this is what I have done. Continue with the Duramycin-10 with all birds. For the sickest one, you will need to make sure you get more of the medicated water into her. This can be done with a dropper and putting one drop at a time on her beak, making sure she does swallow it and not just let it run off, or opening it and putting one drop in her mouth. Be careful if you do this, it is very easy for them to aspirate and that can cause it's own problems. It may not work, there is that chance. another thing sad here is if this is Coryza or any of the others, your birds now have a disease they will carry for the rest of their lives and at times can shed the virus and infect any new birds you may add later on. That is why some people will tell you to cull and start over with new birds after a total sanitation of the housing, etc.. Your birds are your own now and can't be sold, traded, whatever. For me, I have IB in mine, that wasn't an issue. I don't trade or sell any of my birds, but I am super careful of other peoples birds as I know I can carry the virus on my barn clothes and even my regular shoes if I have to go where they've been. Basically, 'Typhoid Mary'. Their eggs will carry this as well, so should never be used for hatching except for yourself. I know it's a lot to take in and in no way fits the image you may have had of being a chicken owner. I am sorry it happened to you, but if you can get them over this, you will still have your flock. Do a little research on the respiratory diseases chickens get and educate yourself. Then your decisions are based on the facts you've learned and not by someone elses say so.

 

[lojo]

Thank you I will start them on Duramycin-10 today. And I'm ok with that. I'll now have my "chicken" clothes only for them haha and will very careful not to spread it to any other flocks I may visit! This morning they are all pretty chipper and everyone got up and said hello including Dotts so she seems a little better but better to be safe then sorry? I don't know what cull means exactly but I'm assuming it mean slaughter.... and that is certainly not a choice ha. As I said everyone is loud and active this morning and Dotts put up a bit of a fight when I picked her up so I'm a little hesitant to give them the antibiotics. I don't want to do anything unnecessary so if everyone seems super good by 4 days should I discountie the duramycin-10?

 

[Haunted55]

Thank you I will start them on Duramycin-10 today. And I'm ok with that. I'll now have my "chicken" clothes only for them haha and will very careful not to spread it to any other flocks I may visit! This morning they are all pretty chipper and everyone got up and said hello including Dotts so she seems a little better but better to be safe then sorry? I don't know what cull means exactly but I'm assuming it mean slaughter.... and that is certainly not a choice ha. As I said everyone is loud and active this morning and Dotts put up a bit of a fight when I picked her up so I'm a little hesitant to give them the antibiotics. I don't want to do anything unnecessary so if everyone seems super good by 4 days should I discountie the duramycin-10?

If you start them on the antibiotic you need to keep them on the antibiotic for the required time. Unless you want to create something that will be resistant to this drug later. Then you would need another drug and trust me, they only get more pricey from here. I'm glad to hear they seem better. You will have to make the choice on whether you need the meds or not.

 

[lojo]

Ok! thank you once again I appreciate this so much! I will give an update how they are tomorrow!