FYI on other reasons chicks seem to have breathing problems

[Karen27]

Hi all.
I had spoken to a few people on here because I was having some issues with chicks that seemly were having respiratory problems .So bit the bullet and took two of them to the vet 75.00 later what he said was that the heavy breathing was most likely from parasites that were causing GI issues, he said the bellies were bloated and causing the breathing problems . So if you have chicks that are acting normal like mine were eating,drinking playing but breathing heavy this could be the problem for you . He was nice enough to give enough medicine for all 6 of them . Although, unfortunately for me its in liquid form which is not very easy to give ,thank goodness its only once a day for 3 days . Just thought I would share the information

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Did he say what kind of parasites, and how old are your chicks, I thought all chicks hatched sterile, without disease and parasites. Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong, so I'm curious as to what they had.

 

[Karen27]

No he didnt say what kind , he was just going on the exam and the swollen belly and the fact that all 3 chicks from the same hatch had the same symptoms .The lungs were clear and there were no respiratory findings . I could have done a fecal test but I just decided not to and go with what he suggested .

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you for your response, always stuff I've never heard of or dealt with, hope your chicks are doing okay.

 

[rIrs roost]

May I ask what kind of meds did he give you?

 

[azygous]

Did he say what kind of parasites, and how old are your chicks, I thought all chicks hatched sterile, without disease and parasites. Hopefully someone will correct me if I am wrong, so I'm curious as to what they had.

Quite the contrary. There are diseases that are transmitted from the hen that produced the egg, through the egg and into the developing chick. This happened in my flock when a Brahma hen passed the lymphotic leucosis virus to her chick while he was in the egg. Although appearing normal and healthy for the first ten months of life, he succumbed to the disease. A necropsy found a two-pound liver among other abnormal organs.

When you're dealing with anything contagious in your flock, it's best to test so you know what you're dealing with and perhaps can prevent further contagion. Unfortunately for my flock, LL is untreatable. I can only hope that the rest have developed resistance, which, so far, does appear to be the case.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Also, some chicks hatch with what we incubators call "mushy chick disease" where their bellies appear bloated and feel, well, mushy. Most of them, in my experience, don't make it that long, but I've had a couple that managed to live a few weeks before they kicked off. It comes from an improper incubation environment and mine always breathe heavy.

I agree you should've had them tested as well. You could be unnecessarily medicating them now (not to mention that most vets don't just hand out medication on a hunch or guess, that would have me looking for a new vet, but that's just me).

Good luck, I hope they pull through and live long, happy lives

 

[Karen27]

Hi,
Well mine are already a couple weeks old acting completely normal running around ,eating and drinking great no problems . I also had gotten some other chicks and I had put them all together before I noticed the breathing now they are doing it as well and they werent from my incubator .I guess I could have the fecal test done but I decided to stop at the 75.00 marker and hope for the best . I dont think they have what you suggested due to their very active behavior

 

[Karen27]

Hi,
He put them on Panacur once a day for 3 days .Its barley a drop that I have to give them

 

[Karen27]

I chose not to do the fecal test I was already up to 75.00.So I am just going to run the course they are acting completely normal eating well . I have them on Probiotics/Electrolytes and fermented peck and scratch food . Its a 3 day course so hopefully all will go well.