Losing a chick a day on average... please HELP!

[StillwaterCreek]

OK, I went into town today and got some VetRx (the poultry version, of course). I couldn't find any Poly-Visol. So they're on plain water for the time being... no more electrolyte/vitamin mix.

Earlier in the day, when the Buff Orp was doing its neck-stretching mouth-gaping thing, I decided to give it a few drops of olive oil just in case it had an impacted crop. When I got back from town, it had stopped the stretching and gaping and seemed to be a lot better. It was eating and appears to be on the upswing.

I gave all three chicks a few drops of the VetRx. Hopefully I'm out of the woods...

 

[cyanne]

VetRx is more for respiratory issues. Think of it kind of like Vapor Rub for chickens. You dose them with it to help clear breathing passages and whatnot. Even then, I have never noticed that it helped very much in my own chickens when they had a respiratory issue. It is just treating symptoms, not addressing the cause.

If you have trouble finding the Poly Visol, just look in the children's vitamin section. I bought mine at Walmart and it was down on the bottom shelf near all of the Flintstones vitamins and whatnot. It is in a little box. You might also try looking in the baby section as Poly Visol is used on babies.

 

[Wynette]

I've had the same results as cyanne regarding VetRX. Some folks swear by it, it's never done much good for me, though. Yep - the polyvisol should be in with the children's vitamins - any drug store or even Wal-Mart or Target should have it.

And how are your little ones today?

 

[horsejody]

My pharmacy carries a less expensive generic version of polyvisol. It has worked well for us.

 

[StillwaterCreek]

I'm still a bit concerned for the Buff, but all three seem to be perky and eating/drinking well this morning. Thanks!

 

[Wynette]

OH, that's great to hear!

Is the buff still gaping when breathing? Have you checked for gapeworm?

 

[StillwaterCreek]

Still doing it occasionally, but much less frequently and not stretching as far.

Oh brother... what the heck is gapeworm!?

 

[Wynette]

It's a worm they can pick up from freeranging...it actually comes from earthworms. Ironic, eh? One of the things that's so good for them potentially can cause them harm. I don't know how common it is, but if they stretch their necks out and open their mouths to breathe, that's a possibility.

I was instructed by Peter Brown, "the chicken doctor" (First State Vet) to check for them this way: put your chicken on your lap, and take a Q-tip and GENTLY push down the throat while twirling it around; when you remove it, if she has gapeworm, you will see them (they are red) on the Q-tip. Then, it's just a matter of worming her. Easy!

 

[cyanne]

Hmmm, if it is something picked up from free-ranging then is it still possible for baby chicks that have been kept in a brooder to get this?

This is a disease I have yet to come up against so I am really curious to learn more.

 

[Wynette]

Nope - to contract gapeworm, they have to be on soil. It's not a disease, just a pesky worm.