Newly hatched chick with labored breathing [with video]

[Want Less]

In the group of 23 chicks we hatched this weekend, now a couple days old, I have one that had consistently had labored breathing. She acts fine, sleeps, plays, etc just like the rest but her breathing is always twice as fast as the others.

Any ideas, thoughts, suggestions? She is a Black Copper Marans and also went spraddle legged a couple hours after hatching even though she was not on slick surfacing (the babies are on window screen over newspaper) so she is leg banded. Don't know if it is related but thought worth mentioning.

I've taken a short video of her:

[VIDEO]

[/VIDEO]

 

[CMV]

Wait and see is my suggestion. Put some vitamins in their water to just generally boost them up. There is not much else that can be done.

Good luck.

 

[Want Less]

Thanks for the response. Is it safe to assume this isn't something contagious? All these chicks are from my own hens, and no other chick is acting like this.

 

[CMV]

If they are from your turf then I think it unlikely she has something contagious that the chicks haven't already been exposed to. Since she is the only ailing one in the bunch I am thinking she has something that is only going to affect her. Seeing the way she breathes makes me wonder if her heart and/or lungs are good working order. Nothing to be done about that one way or another, so... Should any of the others start ailing then I will change my view on it.

I'd just keep an eye on her. Make sure she is getting access to resources, isn't getting trampled by her very exuberant brooder mates, etc. The usual things.