Chick listless and gasping for air

[mhaines4102]

I have a chick that is listless and gasping for air. I separated it from the other chicks, what could it be? (5 days old)

 

[chickenzoo]

Did you listen to it's lungs for any crackleing? If so it has a cold. You'll need to treat it with some meds. If not I'm not sure what it could be......

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Separate it from the others. Put electrolytes in it's water. Get some poly-vis-ol pediatric vitamins (without iron) from the drugstore and give the chick 1 drop twice a day for 7 days, then taper off. Buy some Terramycin to put in the water ASAP! It likely has a respiratory infection of some kind and may need a stronger antibiotic...like Baytril...but you will have to get that from a vet.

 

[Mahonri]

Quote:
what he said, ... hope it makes it.

 

[PoultryPedia]

As far as easy-to-get powdered medicines go, Aeromycin is probably better to give than Terramycin. It is supposed to last longer--If you're giving Terramycin in water you're supposed to mix up a fresh batch twice a day, while you don't have to do that with Aeromycin.
Just what I've heard.

 

[Windy Ridge]

Sometimes chicks get listless when they are hot, and they pant to help them cool down. Could it be something as simple as that?

I had some chicks once (dark colored) that seemed to like it 5 degrees or so cooler than any of my others. I thought maybe their dark down was absorbing heat more than the down of my other light colored chicks.

I hope your little chick will be okay!

 

[mhaines4102]

Thanks for all the posts. It didn't make it. But thank you. I think it got too hot... if possible. All of the chicks started panting soon after. I moved the brooder into my laundry room and they all started looking good. It was about 98 to 100 outside. Is that possible? But, it was more than panting. It was gulping for air. Could it have gotten a chunk of chick starter caught in it's throat? Well, the other 25 are really energetic.

 

[Three Cedars Silkies]

Unless they were in the direct sun, it shouldn't be too hot. Seems like the hotter it is, the more mine like it...as long as they are in the shade.

 

[seminolewind]

I went out yesterday morning on the patio and the chicks were in direct sunlight, and panting. It was only 8 am.