Hi I'm new here and I have a question about sick chicks

[kristyndave5]

Hi my name is Kristy I live in Tennessee I currently have 2 mixed americana chickens that I have had for a year I love them. I bought 8 last year and all but 2 were roosters so I had to get rid of them it made me sad so this spring I decided to get some more from my local Co-op I had them for about 6 weeks then sadly my dear husband left them outside in the run one night and didn't lock up the dogs and they killed all my babies. I still have my 2 big girls. My husband went out and bought 8 new chicks for me but we have had 2 die from this bunch and several acted sick but have gotten better.

The sick chicks were opening and shutting there beaks like they were gulping air and layed around for several days then all of a sudden they were better they are now eating and drinking and acting normal.

My concern is once they are bigger they will be introduced to my 2 big ladies I have read different things about sick chicks being immune to different things once they have it but passing it on to other chickens if they are introduced to them and I am also concerned about them passing something on in their eggs once they start laying

Can anyone help me tell me what to do?

 

[Chickenloving]

I had my chicks doing that. They probably had something stuck in their throat or ate too much. I hope it goes well for you.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry for your losses You might want to post in the Emergencies forum about your flock to figure out what is going on with the younger ones and if it might be a problem for your older girls https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures
With introducing them to your older girls, it is best to wait until they are the same size and also have a long period of the two flocks being able to see each other but no touching, through wire seem to work best, ie dividing the coop into two sections or keeping the new/younger ones in a cage inside the coup for a couple of weeks to a month at least. The chickens will get to know each other and sort of work out a pecking order before actually coming in contact with each other. After a week or two, letting them free range together is a good idea and should help... It will take a couple of weeks to get the pecking order sorted out. There is a nice article in the Learning Center on integrating flocks you might like to check out, the part about actually combining them is after the quarantine section. https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/adding-to-your-flock

 

[drumstick diva]

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[rainbowhatchery]

welcome