Need Help Fast!! Gasping chicken!

[Whimsical Farming Wife]

I am sorry that your little Stewie passed away. So frustrating when you don't know the cause.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

sad news.... Stewie passed away...

I still looked her over and found nothing. guess its time to quarentine all the kids that were with her and scrub down the coop.

Sorry she didn't improve, but diseases effecting the respiratory system can be especially difficult to diagnose.

The list includes viral infections, such as Avian Influenza, Pox, Infectious Bronchitis (C), Laryngotracheitis (C), and Newcastle Disease, bacterial infections, such as Infectious Coryza (C), Pasteurella, E. coli, and Bordetella (T), the fungal infection Aspergillosis, and Mycoplasmas. I'm sure I've missed a few ... if done quickly, and right? A necropsy may identify what you're dealin' with here.

At this point? I can't imagine quarantine would be of any benefit, but it surely can't do any harm.

I would also give all the birds Apple Cider Vinegar at the rate of about four teaspoons per gallon in a plastic waterer as their sole source of water (do not use acetic acid in galvanized containers), which is the best treatment for several illnesses that could cause respiratory problems. And, the tanin helps to remove the mucus from their entire system, which improves the uptake of nutrients/vitamins, as well as expelling some of those virii/bacteria/etc., and will help to boost their immune systems.

Make sure that the chicken house exchanges air at a rate of six times it's volume per day ... that's your best defense against respiratory illnesses.
For example, an 8' x 10' building averaging 7' high contains 8 x 10 = 80 square feet, X 7 = 560 cubic foot of air, X 6 times a day = 3360 cu. ft. / day, which is 3360 / (24 hours X 60 minutes) = 3360 / 1440 = 2 1/3 cubic foot per minute of air flow. If temperatures become too cold at this rate? Add heat.

 

[Little Roughian]

Thank you guys. I miss spending time with her already. Nobody else was as happy to see me.
There was 4 other little chickies in with Stewie who were all to small to fend for themselves in the big pen. So I won't be putting them into the other pen for a while just to be sure. I'll definetly give them some apple cider vinegar as well. About how long should I do that?

 

[delisha]

apple cider vinegar with the mother is a good thing to give all your live stock. It does all good things. You should continue to do it till you no longer have animals.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Thank you guys. I miss spending time with her already. Nobody else was as happy to see me.
There was 4 other little chickies in with Stewie who were all to small to fend for themselves in the big pen. So I won't be putting them into the other pen for a while just to be sure. I'll definetly give them some apple cider vinegar as well. About how long should I do that?

Yeah, we all know better than to get too attached, but it's not possible when some just go 'n peck on through our armor. ACV is something you should do w/ all your birds, and from now on. I have personally developed a different manner of dosing ... I start w/ less, and work my way up, and the each subsequent fill receives one less teaspoon than the last. Although I can't offer documented proof, it is my belief that this still provides all benefits of ACV, and both my chicks and my keets drank more water on every day w/ this pattern than they ever had before (I do also filter the chorine out first, primarily to improve the flavor, which alone increase intake from 6~8% in my non-clinical 'unofficial' trials ~'-)

:: edit :: I forgot to mention that you should NEVER use ACV or anything acidic in galvanized metal containers :: /edit ::

 

[itsthelaw37801]

Wish you had told me that several months ago. We used it, and ruined the waterer.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Wish you had told me that several months ago. We used it, and ruined the waterer.

Nobody told you, because we all want your acid-etched metal ones to make great lookin' planters out of ~'-)

Plain ol' White Vinegar applied directly to every surface (inside/out, under rims and top handle) preps it well to accept a fresh coating of paint.

 

[Moonflowerlady]

Ahhhh so sad to hear about little stewie. YOU did all u could. Good luck with the rest of the coop. Take care.

 

[Moonflowerlady]

Love using old waterers for planters ( anything is plant worthy I have a question about the waterer - My husband made a Water trough out of concrete - do u think ACV Will react to that surface? WE have used as a water troughyears ago and it works well.But i dont think he has ever given the chickens ACVbefore. We used to raise show Pigeons and we did put it in their water.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Love using old waterers for planters ( anything is plant worthy

I have a question about the waterer - My husband made a Water trough out of concrete - do u think ACV Will react to that surface? WE have used as a water troughyears ago and it works well.But i dont think he has ever given the chickens ACVbefore. We used to raise show Pigeons and we did put it in their water.

My lil' brother's the pigeon (a.k.a. white dove) guy. For certain, acetic acid react w/ concrete, as I use it as a mild wash for preppin' concrete for finishing. Now, the question that comes to my mind is -- Will the etching of concrete surfaces put anything in the water that would be potentially harmful to my chickens, or have any negative impact upon their eggs, or put anything into their eggs or meat that ain't supposed to be in there? and, even as I typed, I was suspecting the answer would also be yes.

But, you could add somethin' to your husband's 'honey, do ...' list: Have him line the trough, or locate plastic containers that would fit w/in it ~'-)