Chicks with closed eye, occasional "gulping", then death. PLEASE HELP!

[sr999]

I have had 5 chicks die on me after showing the above symptoms. I've raised a multitude of chicks from just hatched on up. This is the 1st time this has happened to me. I buy from a very reputable local breeder & supplier. I've had chicks that were a week old & older suddenly going around with one eye closed, then both - intermittently, then most of the time. They also raise their heads, gasp & gulp. Sometimes they sneeze a little. Then they get to the point where they spend much of their time standing in a corner "sleeping". They are less active than other chicks, but still eat & drink. Then, suddenly, they are dead! I've had 2 that lived that way for a month before they died. I don't get it!?!? I used medicated feed (for the 1st time ever), vitamin/electrolyte solution in water (made for livestock),Sulfadimethoxine, Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride (both water soluble). No pasty butt, no visible signs of injury, crops not ballooned out, no bad odor. I was using pine shavings (which I thoroughly dislike, as it always ends up in the food & water!) Changed to shredded straw, meant for safe livestock bedding & much prefer it. I keep one section of the pen at 88-95 degrees, as the chicks vary a little in age & maturation rate. The farthest corner of the pen is kept at about 80 degrees.
What on earth is happening with my chicks?? I've never seen anything like this! Ideas, anyone?

 

[Alex Coffey]

My friend told me about this disease the other day let me check wih him in the symptoms. If its what I'm thinking of you need to kill them as soon as you notice it again.

 

[joan1708]

Have you done a necropsy? I'm thinking its a respiratory disease (I'm no expert and I don't have any experience with this). But, I think a necropsy will help you figure it out, I know you don't want to loose more chicks.

 

[ten chicks]

I have had 5 chicks die on me after showing the above symptoms. I've raised a multitude of chicks from just hatched on up. This is the 1st time this has happened to me. I buy from a very reputable local breeder & supplier. I've had chicks that were a week old & older suddenly going around with one eye closed, then both - intermittently, then most of the time. They also raise their heads, gasp & gulp. Sometimes they sneeze a little. Then they get to the point where they spend much of their time standing in a corner "sleeping". They are less active than other chicks, but still eat & drink. Then, suddenly, they are dead! I've had 2 that lived that way for a month before they died. I don't get it!?!? I used medicated feed (for the 1st time ever), vitamin/electrolyte solution in water (made for livestock),Sulfadimethoxine, Oxytetracycline Hydrochloride (both water soluble). No pasty butt, no visible signs of injury, crops not ballooned out, no bad odor. I was using pine shavings (which I thoroughly dislike, as it always ends up in the food & water!) Changed to shredded straw, meant for safe livestock bedding & much prefer it. I keep one section of the pen at 88-95 degrees, as the chicks vary a little in age & maturation rate. The farthest corner of the pen is kept at about 80 degrees.
What on earth is happening with my chicks?? I've never seen anything like this! Ideas, anyone?

Have you treated them for cocci? Medicated feed does not prevent cocci. If you purchase Corid(amprol) dosage is Corid powder - 1/2 tsp per gallon of water, Dosage for Corid liquid - 2 tsp per gallon of water. Treat all chicks for 5 days,do not give vitamins during treatment(interferes with medication)give vitamins after treatment.

 

[sr999]

For anyone who's interested in this thread..........

I have 2 MORE chicks showing these symptoms! I took them to an avian vet who strongly suspects Infectious Laryngotracheitis, which is caused by a Herpes virus (not transmittable or related to human Herpes strains). The symptoms & pics can be found here: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/196/laryngotracheitis. Won't have definite diagnosis until sometime next week(?).

Overnight, one of my chicks developed edema under her eyelid. The vet wrote her off as a goner, then informed me that she would have to report this to the state, who would insist on a necropsy at a cost to ME of $120 that I can't afford. Refuse & she sends them to my home! No wonder things like this so often go unreported! In addition, she wanted to charge me another $43.50 to euthanize the already dying chick. I really had no choice but to euthanize the poor little thing myself (been bawling my freakin' eyes out for an hour!).

I'm sharing this so others will be able to recognize the symptoms, & hopefully, be able to take care of the problem themselves. Apparently, there is no known treatment for this, but an older Veterinary Merck Manual says that administration of expectorants, isolation in quiet place free from dust, & clean food & water have been known to help the little ones get thru it. Best of luck to anyone who ends up with this horrible virus, & God bless!

 

[Lavendise]

Thank you so much for sharing your story. It has educated me about this disease. It is so horrible what you had to go thru. My heart goes out to you!

 

[ten chicks]

For anyone who's interested in this thread..........

I have 2 MORE chicks showing these symptoms! I took them to an avian vet who strongly suspects Infectious Laryngotracheitis, which is caused by a Herpes virus (not transmittable or related to human Herpes strains). The symptoms & pics can be found here: http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/196/laryngotracheitis. Won't have definite diagnosis until sometime next week(?).

Overnight, one of my chicks developed edema under her eyelid. The vet wrote her off as a goner, then informed me that she would have to report this to the state, who would insist on a necropsy at a cost to ME of $120 that I can't afford. Refuse & she sends them to my home! No wonder things like this so often go unreported! In addition, she wanted to charge me another $43.50 to euthanize the already dying chick. I really had no choice but to euthanize the poor little thing myself (been bawling my freakin' eyes out for an hour!).

I'm sharing this so others will be able to recognize the symptoms, & hopefully, be able to take care of the problem themselves. Apparently, there is no known treatment for this, but an older Veterinary Merck Manual says that administration of expectorants, isolation in quiet place free from dust, & clean food & water have been known to help the little ones get thru it. Best of luck to anyone who ends up with this horrible virus, & God bless!

While reading your post one thing i found interesting is that when you treated chicks for Coccidiosis,you used Sulfadimethoxine(sulmet). I am not sure if you are aware that Sulmet only kills 2 strains of Cocci,whereas Corid(amprolium) kills 9 strains. It is possible that the Sulmet did not kill the strain that your chicks had. If this were the case,then no,your chicks would not get better,they would probably die.The symptoms you described do fit with the symptoms seen in chicks with Coccidiosis. Just wanted to make you aware of this. You mentioned that the vet suspected Laryngotracheitis,but was this diagnosis confirmed,or was this an educated guess?

 

[sr999]

While reading your post one thing i found interesting is that when you treated chicks for Coccidiosis,you used Sulfadimethoxine(sulmet). I am not sure if you are aware that Sulmet only kills 2 strains of Cocci,whereas Corid(amprolium) kills 9 strains. It is possible that the Sulmet did not kill the strain that your chicks had. If this were the case,then no,your chicks would not get better,they would probably die.The symptoms you described do fit with the symptoms seen in chicks with Coccidiosis. Just wanted to make you aware of this. You mentioned that the vet suspected Laryngotracheitis,but was this diagnosis confirmed,or was this an educated guess?

Thank you for your response. During the time I was treating, 1st with the Sulfa., then with the Oxytetra., they were on feed medicated with Amprolium. The package of food said specifically NOT to add additional Amprolium, so I followed directions. The vet said that I had used all I could, but that none would have been effective against a viral infection, anyway. She said it was definitely NOT Coccidiosis or Coryza. Having read up on both, I'd also say that the symptoms don't match. The only place I even found a description of the Laryngotracheitis was in an older veterinary manual. Surprising, if it's as big of a problem as the vet made it out to be! It did say that this virus is countrywide & rather common!! Funny, I & my hatchery friend had never heard of it.........

The vet would not guarantee 100% that this virus is, in fact, what they have, saying that it was up to the state lab to make that determination, not her. But she said outbreaks of it occur every few years, she had seen it before, & the symptoms & exam indicated to her that it was very likely. Gotta love their political-type of double-talk, huh? This woman was about as warm & sympathetic as a 5-foot icicle! Unfortunately, 1 of very few vets that see chickens. She said she was "required by law" to report me & everyone I had bought chickens from to the state. Big brother is watching! God knows what they'll do if she tests positive for that virus.

I suppose I'll hear back from either her or the state sometime next week. The body can't be shipped to them for necropsy until Monday. As of now, I have lost 1 of each of the following: Barnevelder, Blue Copper Maran, Lavender Orpington, Partridge Plymouth Rock, Australorp, Blue Silkie, Blue-Laced Red Wyandotte - not inexpensive birds! Now, I have a Buff Partridge Silkie & another Partridge Rock sick & in confinement. I just want to cry all the time - I can't believe this is happening!! I pray to God none of you on this forum ever have to experience such a heartbreaking disease!