HELP! 2 day old baby chick sneezing

[Tatiana110]

We bought 10 broiler chicks on Monday (hatched Monday morning), and on Tuesday I noticed one chick sort of sneezing, certainly congested. He does that all the time now, no worse no better. It is Day 3 today. Another baby chick started to do the same.

Do you know what's happening?

We feed them organic broiler starter, water with kobmucha. They are with a broody hen, in a brand new clean brooder, inside the house.

The hen is OK. She hatched one chick a week ago, he is also fine so far (he is in the same brooder).

My understanding is that if chicks get infected within a day or two, it must be viral, not bacterial. Is this correct?

Can I do anything to help them? Is it contagious?

The sneezing babies eat and drink well. They are not lethargic. But they are constantly sneezing.

Thank you so much for your help!

 

[HensnHedgies]

I had a similar problem:/ one of my polish chicks began sneezing and wheezing almost constantly. What I did was add some electrolytes and some VetRX to his water. I separated him from the other chick and put some VetRX on his beak and under his wings. Within a few hours the sneezing had decreased. Make sure you keep the sneezing chicks warm and hydrated, which to my understanding they are in fact drinking. If I were you I would definitely separate them from the non-sneezing chicks. I would really recommend VETRX. It's about $8.00 at Rural King or Tractor Supply. It's really great and all natural. Hope the poor chicks get well!

 

[Tatiana110]

Thank you!

I added a few drops of oregano and rosemary oil to their waterer. And camphor oil drops on the brooder walls and bedding. It is an equivalent to vetrx. I also added minced garlic to their starter mash. The chicks are eating and drinking, they run to Momma when she calls them.

What puzzles me is how a day old chick can get sick? Bacterial infections take time to infect and produce symptoms. It must be viral. ??? If so, they all have been exposed.

Does that mean the virus/infection was already in the chicks when we bought them?

I need to know what it is, as I understand that many respiratory issues make birds carriers for life, and they'll be infecting my other chickens. The broody hen that is taking care of them is now exposed. Same as her original chick that we planned to keep much longer than the broilers.

 

[Pork Pie]

It could be a reaction to the vaccinations that i would imagine were given the day they were born. A few of my chicks showed symptoms like those you mentioned three to four days after i gave them vaccinations against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis.

CT

 

[Tatiana110]

It could be a reaction to the vaccinations that i would imagine were given the day they were born. A few of my chicks showed symptoms like those you mentioned three to four days after i gave them vaccinations against Newcastle disease and infectious bronchitis.

CT

ok, thank you!!!

I did not know they vaccinate broiler chicks, but I will check with the hatchery.

 

[HensnHedgies]

I honestly can't say for sure. I agree that it is probably viral. As for how your day old chicks got sick, can't say for sure either. whatever the case, I hope they get better! Also, it could be the bedding you are using. If it has a lot of dust in it, that could be what's causing the sneezing. If they aren't wheezing and if there isn't any discharge around their eyes and such, then I don't really think it's super serious. However I'm not a vet or anything so I can't be sure

 

[Pork Pie]

ok, thank you!!!

I did not know they vaccinate broiler chicks, but I will check with the hatchery.

You're most welcome - i think that vaccinating is standard practice in almost all hatcheries - particularly those who breed for the commercial market. Lets hope that it is the case but either way, as mentioned the post above, its likely they will get over it and be fine.

Good luck

CT