Chicks breathing weird! Please help 🥺

[Farmgirl283420]

I have a chick who has splay leg, which we are in the process of fixing, but I’ve noticed when sometimes when she breathes it almost makes a faint clicking noise. It seems to be mostly after we have given it water. If you could find my other thread there will be more about the chick, you’ll just probably have to read the whole thread. (It’s short) can someone please please help me?

 

[Farmgirl283420]

Can someone please help? @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive @azygous @fluffycrow @LaFleche @MROO

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Can she eat/drink on her own?
If you are syringing fluids, she may have aspirated a little. Try to encourage her to drink and eat on her own.

Do you have photos of her?

The other one is blind? Can you get some good clear photos of both eyes?

 

[LaFleche]

The clicking noise does not bode well as it often means that the chick has aspirated liquid and has difficulty breathing.
This can happen during hatch but also when trying to get them to drink.

How exactly have you been giving water?

It is important to just put one drop on the tip of the beak and let it swallow. Then pause, you can count to 8 or 10 in between each of the next drops. Using a dropper helps to get it right.

Don't give more than 6 drops in one session and be careful not to put any pressure on the crop while holding the chick.

It is quite time consuming but cannot be rushed.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

When she arrived she was lying down being trampled, so I was trying to get some water into her. She pretty much looked dead except for her breathing. First I did the little drops but we did tip a bowl so she could get a few swallows once she was a bit more active. Mostly I’ve been using a spoon. I know you guys are right. I definitely made a mistake. The blind one can kind of drink on her own if you let her know the water is there. I just can not get her to eat. This is just heartbreaking. Do you need a better picture? I can get one if you do.

 

[Farmgirl283420]

The clicking noise does not bode well as it often means that the chick has aspirated liquid and has difficulty breathing.
This can happen during hatch but also when trying to get them to drink.

How exactly have you been giving water?

It is important to just put one drop on the tip of the beak and let it swallow. Then pause, you can count to 8 or 10 in between each of the next drops. Using a dropper helps to get it right.

Don't give more than 6 drops in one session and be careful not to put any pressure on the crop while holding the chick.

It is quite time consuming but cannot be rushed.

If she has aspirated can she survive? Or will I have killed her trying to help her?

 

[LaFleche]

If she has aspirated can she survive? Or will I have killed her trying to help her?

They can survive but only time will tell.
And, most importantly, it is not your fault if it doesn't.

Chicks can hatch with all kinds of genetic or other disorders and some will survive against all odds and some will not despite all our efforts.

And sometimes it is necessary to help them out of their misery and end the suffering when there is no chance for them to get better.