Need Help Asap!!!

[Domestic_goddess]

I have 23 chicks ranging in age from 3-4 weeks old and they have just started sneezing, they are all eating and drinking....looking other wise healthy as of now! We just took them to the outside coop for the first time yesterday, and they spent thier first night outside last night. We added wood shavings to the floor of the coop, we got the shavings from a local carpenter, it has a mix of different woods in it...I didn't see much red woods and figured it would be okay. What are your thoughts? Should I remove the shavings or is it something more serious with thier respitory system. I have Aureomycin medicated crumbles, can I give it to chicks this young and if so how much? PLEASE I need your help ASAP!!! I've also started them on Vi-tal in their water.

 

[Alabama ee]

It might be a little early to put them out. They might be getting cold.

 

[jennh]

Quote:
That's what I was thinking. How cold is it in Utah right now?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
I would be wondering about the temp as well. Generally they don't move outside until they are fully feathered. But also, if you have some shavings of an unknown source in there, I suppose that could be an issue as well.
I just wouldn't know what to tell you with any certainty.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Quote:
I don't think they are cold, have two heating lamps and I check the temp often, it was 80 earlier today and I turned one lamp off...They have been doing well on temps around 70.

 

[Domestic_goddess]

Anyone else?

 

[empireranch]

I would change the shavings. I use aspen shavings in my coop - a bit more expensive though but my understanding is less respiratory issues than with other wood shavings.

 

[schellie69]

Could be something in the environment. Dust, the shavings I would look into that before I would give them antibiotics It could be that they where kicking up dirt or even dust from the feed can cause them to sneeze. Good luck. Start with their environment and go from there.