Help! Chicks sick? Sneezing water!

[Sarah B.]

I've got three three-week-old chicks (I'll admit I'm a first time chicken farmer and don't have a lot of experience). Because it was so hot outside I took my chicks out of their brooder and outside to my garden. I thought it would be ok for a short while, I just wanted to let them have some fun because I can't let them out of their brooder because they poop so much.

Anyway I set up water and food for them if they needed refreshments (I noticed they'd knocked over their water bowl), and I was right. As soon as I let them go they immediately started gulping down water. Now because I was babysitting I let my sister watch them while I changed a diaper, but when I came back they all seemed a bit chilly. I immediately took up the smallest who seemed to be doing the worst and soon after she started gurgling and then sneezing water. Water came out of her mouth and splattered everywhere around. She did this about three times beforehand I got scared and put them back into the brooder.

I asked my sister about this and she said they'd started sneezing (not water though) soon after starting drinking. Is this normal for the first outing or are they sick? Is it becouse they/she drank too fast or what? Is it normal and should I let them out again?

 

[Sarah B.]

*before

And two of my chicks are Icelandics and I think the smallest (the one who was sneezing water) is an Easter egger.

 

[wvchics]

Chica can catch a chill very easily. Do they have most of their feathers or still fuzzy. What was the temperature outside.

 

[Sarah B.]

Around 23-24 degrees celcius

 

[wvchics]

So around 70 F that is a little chilly for chicks if they aren't feathered in all the way. The first week they should be at about 90-95 F then decrease about 5 degrees each week. So at 3 weeks they should be about 80-85 F. Once they are fully feathered or a little older that temp would be fine. For now I would keep them warm and add a supplement to their water to help provide them with extra nutrients. I wouldn't take them back out until they are fully recovered and just make sure it's the right temperature depending on their age and feathers. Once they have all their feathers they can handle temperatures closer to our comfort zone. Right now they should have a heat lamp to keep them nice and hot. You can also use a small heater if they are being kept in a room. If they are not warm enough they will all huddle right under the lamp if they are too warm they will pant and stear clear of the heat source. I hope they get better soon. Keep us posted.