Chicken died after 4 days of illness. What could it be?

[micheleconde]

Hi friends! I am a new chicken owner and I have gotten so much valuable info from this site already - so thank you! My chickens are 5 and a half weeks old and we just lost one last night. I'm not sure why and was hoping someone might have an idea.

The chicken (barred rock) started to get sick on Monday... Hunched like she was cold, off to the side off the brooder by herself, not interacting with the other chickens or me. Usually she's one of the most active ones. I treated her with Corid thinking it could be the start of coccidiosis and didn't want to take any chances. After a few days on that and her not getting better, I realized that probably wasn't the issue. Her breathing was labored (big deep breaths) and I could hear a clicking sound in her lungs. I was able to get my hands on some antibiotics and started that Friday but it was too late. By Friday, she wasn't even standing (she was sitting) and didn't move all day. I gave her antibiotics by mouth with a dropper and she didn't even have the energy to fight me opening her mouth. She was also much wheezier at this point. She never, however, had any nose, mouth or eye discharge. She died Friday night. FYI, in case is matters, she has been inside the house/brooder for the most part with the exception of a few warms days we've had lately when I've been able to bring them outside for a little field trip in the yard - so she did have some outdoor exposure.

So far, the other 7 chicks are perfectly fine. The chickens were all together for the first 2 days of her being sick while I bought and set up an isolated coop. So I guess I'm just wondering if anyone has any idea at all what this could have been so I can figure out if my other chickens are going to get it, if whatever it is has a longer incubation period.

Thanks so much!

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss. It sounds like the chick had something wrong internally or with her immunity. It was good to treat with Corid, but the clicking while breathing is a bad sign. The only chick I have seen with a clicking had suffered a leaking air sac from an injury.

Sometimes chicks can suffer aspergillosis (also called brooder oneumonia) from mold in the bedding, from water spills. Some have weak hearts. With a group of chicks, it can be common to lose one. If you lose another, you can get a necropsy by the state vet that can give a diagnosis.

 

[micheleconde]

Welcome to BYC. Sorry for your loss. It sounds like the chick had something wrong internally or with her immunity. It was good to treat with Corid, but the clicking while breathing is a bad sign. The only chick I have seen with a clicking had suffered a leaking air sac from an injury.

Sometimes chicks can suffer aspergillosis (also called brooder oneumonia) from mold in the bedding, from water spills. Some have weak hearts. With a group of chicks, it can be common to lose one. If you lose another, you can get a necropsy by the state vet that can give a diagnosis.

Thanks so much for your reply! Since it came on so suddenly, an internal problem or injury definitely seems like a possibility since no meds were working and all the other chickens are fine. Frustrating to not know what happened though.