help, why is my baby chick doing this? UPDATE: doing great (pic pg5)

[backdoorchicken]

Quote:
i dropped some water with a dropper but more than that i would be afraid to get it in its lungs

 

[hearthnsoul]

I know I think like that too, yesterday two of the chicks had eaten moms pellets, they follow her around the corral all day and it's inevitable they will get smething. My husband just scooped them up and dribbled water down their throatsfrm his fingers, took two shots with one of the chicks one with the other. I said the same thing you did, don't asperate them, and he just rolled his eyes at me. I hated to admit it, it worked.

 

[backdoorchicken]

its doing it again.

 

[chickenzoo]

Perhaps give it a little olive oil or such and see if it helps lubricate the throat some. No crackles in it's lungs or any noises?

 

[doxielover]

I was reading in one of my new books, Raising Chickens for Dummies, that you need to be careful when handling chicks or adult birds. If they are held too tight, it compresses their ribs and they may have breathing problems. It seemed while I was watching the video that the chick was silent each time you put your hand around it. Not a judgement as to your handling, just a thought.

 

[backdoorchicken]

Quote:
the table was a little cold. i was just giving it warm shelter. nothing tight.

 

[backdoorchicken]

i now have her separated from the others. she does the gasping in waves. sometimes she is fine but most of the time she is opening and closing her mouth as if she is trying to take a breath. i listened and heard no sounds coming from her mouth or chest. she sleeps a lot and each time she wakes up the gasping is heavier and it wears her out quickly. she poops fine and i have seen her eat and drink but not often due to the sleeping.

i also gave her a few drops of sugar water.

 

[easttxchick]

I so wish I could help you, backdoorchickens, I feel kinda helpless.
I REALLY want your chick to make it...the eating and drinking is a good sign, I would think.

 

[bantybev]

I had one chick out of 11 in March that did the same thing. He did it for about 4 or 5 days, and I thought I would lose it for sure. I gave him a drop of polyvisol mixed with water twice a day for two days and he, finally, quit gasping around 6 days after it started and now is as healthy as the other 10. I still don't know why he did this. It started out just occasionally and seemed to get worse, until he was doing it almost constantly. It was weird. It slowly subsided. I don't know if the polyvisol helped or he just reached a "peak" and then started getting better. I also gave him a little chick grit in case it was shavings he had eaten that got stuck in his crop or throat. I changed all their bedding, in case it was a reaction to bedding around the waterer getting damp and causing a reaction. I was just frantic, worrying about him. While he was doing the gasping, he ate and drank, although not as much as the others, and his poo seemed normal. Just the gasping. He wasn't as active as the others and spent most of his time just standing, gasping.
I hope your recovers as well as mine did. He is 8 weeks old now and healthy as can be. Good luck little chickie

 

[Sindel]

You know, my duck is doing the same thing, and has been for like 2 weeks... I dont know why, or how to fix it. But let me know what you find out, lol.