Chicken making crackly grunt noise

[cstephens1987]

To provide context, my chicks are brooding outdoors inside their future coop in an enclosed section of the coop under heat lamps. We've had two cold snaps recently that I think contributed to the chicks ailments as both happened right after a distinctly cold night , where the heat lamps may have been insufficient.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Well that chick did get better over the next 24 hours or so and I have not heard any more from her, however unfortunately my runty little barnevelder appears to have the same thing going on this morning. I'll be keeping an eye on him but it seems I may need antibiotic after all. Is there one that can be fed to the whole flock or is this something you just chase one at a time? I really don't want to have to cull anybody if I don't have to.

I would keep an eye on him to see if he improves like the other one.
If you do administer antibiotics, only treat the one(s) that are sick - so individually.

 

[cstephens1987]

I would keep an eye on him to see if he improves like the other one.
If you do administer antibiotics, only treat the one(s) that are sick - so individually.

Well I sat and watched the flock in their sleep and there are actually four of them doing the noise to varying degrees. Two of my EE and two of my BV. The eggers and one of the BV are barely doing it at all and seem to only really do it in their sleep not when running around. The one BV seems a bit worse off than the others but she moves around fine too when awake.

 

[Eggcessive]

I agree to only treat birds who are showing signs, but if you can contact your local vet, they might prescribe Tylan Soluble Powder, only available by prescription, to treat them in the water. Some vets will recommend treating them all if that many are showing symptoms. They do have to drink enough of the medicated water, which may be a challenge with sick birds.

 

[cstephens1987]

I agree to only treat birds who are showing signs, but if you can contact your local vet, they might prescribe Tylan Soluble Powder, only available by prescription, to treat them in the water. Some vets will recommend treating them all if that many are showing symptoms. They do have to drink enough of the medicated water, which may be a challenge with sick birds.

I think they are all active and eating and drinking.

 

[azygous]

@Eggcessive has give you stellar advice. I would just add here what I would probably do in your situation. It's possible for chicks to recover from a respiratory illness if they have strong immune systems. (That runt chick may be an exception in your brood.)

I would give them Poultry Nutri-drench in their water after dosing each chick with one drop of the drench undiluted. Mix one-quarter teaspoon in a quart of fresh water daily. Do this as their only water source until you see all the symptoms disappear (hopefully). This will strengthen their immune systems so they can better fight off the bacteria. Be aware that once chickens are exposed to a CRD, they likely carry it for life and stress can activate it at any time.

Meanwhile, see if you can talk to a vet about acquiring a prescription for the med @Eggcessive recommended so you have it ready to go if the symptoms suddenly worsen rather than improve. With chicks, you need to be ready to act quickly or you can lose them.

 

[cstephens1987]

@Eggcessive has give you stellar advice. I would just add here what I would probably do in your situation. It's possible for chicks to recover from a respiratory illness if they have strong immune systems. (That runt chick may be an exception in your brood.)

I would give them Poultry Nutri-drench in their water after dosing each chick with one drop of the drench undiluted. Mix one-quarter teaspoon in a quart of fresh water daily. Do this as their only water source until you see all the symptoms disappear (hopefully). This will strengthen their immune systems so they can better fight off the bacteria. Be aware that once chickens are exposed to a CRD, they likely carry it for life and stress can activate it at any time.

Meanwhile, see if you can talk to a vet about acquiring a prescription for the med @Eggcessive recommended so you have it ready to go if the symptoms suddenly worsen rather than improve. With chicks, you need to be ready to act quickly or you can lose them.

I can pick some up at TSC I believe and try that. I also have some vetRx on hand if that works. I'll post a video here in a bit of them this morning. All seem to be up and running around so I'm hopeful that this issue is at least mild. I don't think my vet does chickens but I'll look around.

 

[cstephens1987]

Just ordered the nutri- drench, I'll have it in tomorrow. Should I use both that and the vetRx for drops on their nose or just one?

 

[Eggcessive]

Vet Rx is strictly an herbal oil with camphor (similar to Vicks) that some like to use. It doesn’t have anything that will cure a respiratory disease. The Poultry NutriDrench is a vitamin/mineral/electrolyte product for stress. It doesn’t matter if you use both.

 

[cstephens1987]

Vet Rx is strictly an herbal oil with camphor (similar to Vicks) that some like to use. It doesn’t have anything that will cure a respiratory disease. The Poultry NutriDrench is a vitamin/mineral/electrolyte product for stress. It doesn’t matter if you use both.

Thanks. Just trying to make sure I am not making things worse. Appreciate all the advice.