Chicks with closed eyes, occasional "gulping", then death

[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?

 

[lampshade1660]

Oh my gosh! I have plenty of chicks die of a very similar death but i have no clue why!

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like a respiratory disease. Some of the diseases such as IB (infectious bronchitis) will not affect older chickens too bad, but will kill a large percentage of chicks. Symptoms include sneezing/cough that sounds like a hiccup and nasal drainage around the nostrils. Since it's virus, antibiotics are more for secondary infections.

 

[sr999]

Deleted

 

[sr999]

Oh my gosh! I have plenty of chicks die of a very similar death but i have no clue why!

Hi "Lampshade"! Do yours have exactly the same symptoms? It's the closed eyes I haven't been able to find anything on......strange!

 

[sr999]

It sounds like a respiratory disease. Some of the diseases such as IB (infectious bronchitis) will not affect older chickens too bad, but will kill a large percentage of chicks. Symptoms include sneezing/cough that sounds like a hiccup and nasal drainage around the nostrils. Since it's virus, antibiotics are more for secondary infections.

If it's a virus, then there's no treatment for it, right? How on earth are they getting it to begin with?? I really haven't heard them make any sound when they "gulp" & can't see any discharge around their nostrils.......I'm really at a loss here!

 

[OwlLover]

I just had a chick die like this about a week ago. Took her to the vet before she died; she took an x-ray, and found a hard mass (looked like grit) in her GI tract as well as coccidia. Are there any large pebbles, rocks, etc that they can access? Put them on Corid for about 5 days (1 teaspoon per gallon), and see if there's any improvement. Best of luck for you and your chicks!!

 

[sr999]

I just had a chick die like this about a week ago. Took her to the vet before she died; she took an x-ray, and found a hard mass (looked like grit) in her GI tract as well as coccidia. Are there any large pebbles, rocks, etc that they can access? Put them on Corid for about 5 days (1 teaspoon per gallon), and see if there's any improvement. Best of luck for you and your chicks!!

No access to grit of any kind, & haven't added it as a supplement, as I was told that the "Medicated Chick Starter" was sufficient. But they do pick thru the pine shavings a lot & sometimes look like they're eating "something". I hope they're not foolish enough to eat wood??!! One of my losses was a rather expensive Lavender Orpington, & I'm soooo bummed! I'll try to find the Corid, if I can.

 

[OwlLover]

Quote:
From what I've read, medicated feed isn't sufficient if they eat the protozoas of coccidia or their eggs. I don't think chicks would eat shavings, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did, so you may want to keep an eye on them for a while. Corid can be found at TSC, if you have one of those close by. Also, if the chicks won't eat, you can give them water and baby food in a syringe if they won't eat or drink; just make sure you stick it down far enough so it doesn't go into their trachea. I did this with my blue andalusian hen when she had what we think was a tumor and couldn't even stand during her last days of life and also with the chick that had this and passed away.

 

[sr999]

Well, the medicated feed DOES have the same medication as the Corid, so I don't know if I should add any more?

But to backtrack a little - consider only the first symptom: going around with one eye closed. What would cause a chick to do that? I now have 2 Silkies doing that, but they pretty much act like the other chicks, just not as playful. I haven't seen the subsequent symptoms yet. Is there anything I can do for the eye that doesn't seem to want to open? I tried a simple eye-wash liquid on 2 that later died, but it didn't seem to help. Thought of putting a touch of Neosporin ointment on the eye, but assume it would just wipe it off on it's back feathers, & don't know if it's safe for them. Anyone know about that?

Does anyone know if the type of water they are getting has any health effects on them? I have plain tap water, soft water (w/salt) & reverse osmosis water. Yeah, I'm really grasping at straws here. I just can't figure this out, & I hate mysteries!