LGBTQ+ Poultry Keepers

[Paz]

The flight is delayed by 4 hours and I won’t to kill the air company…

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you. I'm feeling OK. As harsh as it sounds, the good thing with breeding your first birds after years of keeping birds in general is that you've seen some horrific stuff. I'm bummed, but I will survive. Right now my brain isn't functioning very well, so you'll have to treat me like a toddler. Are you saying that it might've not been coccidiosis or any bacteria/organism/disease, but rather something not contagious that won't need treating?

You still need hugs.

All we can do is go by symptoms since we can't ask the little guy what's wrong and I've never done a necropsy on a tiny chick, so all we can do is guess at this point.

Coccidiosis outbreaks are common in chicks as the Coccidia, which is present in all birds poop, start to multiply in the intestines of the baby burrowing into the lining, which comes out as blood. However since you mentioned he only started to show these symptoms 24 hours ago and you don't think he will make it much onger, with no blood present in the poop, I highly doubt it's Coccidiosis.

He wasn't gasping for air? Then I doubt it was brooder pneumonia or a lung fungus infection.

Imbilical cord infections are common and kill babies in their first week.

Dirty incubators that weren't cleaned between hatches cause early deaths, but yours was brand new.

There are viruses they can contract too but this little guy went fast. If you are positive he was eating and drinking since birth, then I am inclined to think he had some sort of bacterial infection or an internal organ defect. I am not aware of any other common issues that kill chicks, I am sure other things like bee stings, fire ant bites, things of this nature kill too.

 

[Canadian Wind]

I'd imagined it was the fermentation doing the magic. I guess I'll do that for now until I can get the amprolium

Sorry about the little one. But to answer this question (and sorry TwoCrows!) yes, the fermentation part is essential. Apple cider is good, yes, but *active* ACV is better.

Let me find this study...

https://www.raising-happy-chickens.com/apple-cider-vinegar-benefits-for-chickens.html

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1828051X.2018.1424570

 

[fluffycrow]

You still need hugs.

All we can do is go by symptoms since we can't ask the little guy what's wrong and I've never done a necropsy on a tiny chick, so all we can do is guess at this point.

Coccidiosis outbreaks are common in chicks as the Coccidia, which is present in all birds poop, start to multiply in the intestines of the baby burrowing into the lining, which comes out as blood. However since you mentioned he only started to show these symptoms 24 hours ago and you don't think he will make it much onger, with no blood present in the poop, I highly doubt it's Coccidiosis.

He wasn't gasping for air? Then I doubt it was brooder pneumonia or a lung fungus infection.

Imbilical cord infections are common and kill babies in their first week.

Dirty incubators that weren't cleaned between hatches cause early deaths, but yours was brand new.

There are viruses they can contract too but this little guy went fast. If you are positive he was eating and drinking since birth, then I am inclined to think he had some sort of bacterial infection or an internal organ defect. I am not aware of any other common issues that kill chicks, I am sure other things like bee stings, fire ant bites, things of this nature kill too.

Thank you. And no, it wasn't gasping for air. Actually, during the second check of the day (when I noticed it being sick) it did open its mouth after I caught it and was holding it, but right before, and right after, it did not. I have also tried to examine at least one poop at least once a day for every chick, nothing suspicious there as well. And I can guarantee that this chick was eating. Actually, it was the first chick to figure out the feeder. Seemed such a vigorous bugger. I also saw it yesterday eating, during the last active hours of the day

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you. And no, it wasn't gasping for air. Actually, during the second check of the day (when I noticed it being sick) it did open its mouth after I caught it and was holding it, but right before, and right after, it did not. I have also tried to examine at least one poop at least once a day for every chick, nothing suspicious there as well. And I can guarantee that this chick was eating. Actually, it was the first chick to figure out the feeder. Seemed such a vigorous bugger. I also saw it yesterday eating, during the last active hours of the day

Ok then the next in line common thing is imbilical cord infections. It kills them in the first week, sometimes the second. The first few days is important to keep their area extremely clean, an start with a sanitized brooder too, their navel area is exposed for several days and bacteria can get inside their bodies easily.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but it can. And remember, not all babies thrive and make it to adulthood, you will lose babies with hatches, it happens.

 

[TwoCrows]

Do you have a lot of bees or ants around this year? Bee and Ant venom can kill babies fast.

 

[fluffycrow]

Thank you. Again. Maybe it was the straw?

Ok then the next in line common thing is imbilical cord infections. It kills them in the first week, sometimes the second. The first few days is important to keep their area extremely clean, an start with a sanitized brooder too, their navel area is exposed for several days and bacteria can get inside their bodies easily.

I'm not saying this is what happened, but it can. And remember, not all babies thrive and make it to adulthood, you will lose babies with hatches, it happens.

It's in the free range chicken area for the adults, inside a bag, but still. Should I be cautious about the other chicks?

 

[fluffycrow]

Do you have a lot of bees or ants around this year? Bee and Ant venom can kill babies fast.

Bees certainly not. Ants I don't know? It's definitely not a year where I've noticed an increased population in ants, but the brooder is in a location one would consider ant central, but I haven't seen any lurking around. Maybe it's because the chicks are eating them

 

[TwoCrows]

Thank you. Again. Maybe it was the straw?


It's in the free range chicken area for the adults, inside a bag, but still. Should I be cautious about the other chicks?

Straw is harmless unless he was eating it and you say his crop was not stuffed, so it can't be the straw.

I always worry about other chicks when one is sick. IF it's possible, you might remove him and keep him by himself inside your house or something, just in case. Especially if he is going to die, the others should not be exposed to deteriorating flesh.

You might get some probiotics for the chicks, helps boost their immune systems. Human, dog, bird, cat stuff, it's all the same.

 

[fluffycrow]

Well...now I don't even know how to say this. Remember how I said "most likely gone"? Well, despite this chick being flat on the ground, after me seeing what I assumed to be post mortem spasms, it opened its eyes for a split second. So it's gravely I'll, but alive