Odd breathing chick

[Snozzle]

I just got home from work and found one of my 3 day old chicks breathing heavy. It was a lot cooler in the brooder then I wanted it to be, but I ended up working an extra shift and didn't get to adjust the height of the light for night temperatures, they were all huddled up near it, so I know it had gotten too cold. They all seem lively, running around drinking and eating after I lowered the light. The one that is breathing odd moves it's whole body into the breath, I guess the only thing I can compare it to would be a bee in the fall when it had gotten too cold and makes a similar pulsing move. Another one of the chicks is doing it too, but not as bad. The odd breathing one is running around picking at it's siblings, he was drinking and eating with the others, none act sick or uncomfortable.
I just want to know is that normal or should I be worried?

 

[PeeperKeeper]

Is your bedding dusty?
Do you feed medicated or nonmedicated chick starter?

 

[Snozzle]

No dust at all they have slip proof cabinet liner for flooring and a washrag on one side for something softer to rest on. Non medicated DuMor chick starter and grower.

 

[Snozzle]

He seems to be breathing a bit easier this morning

 

[Snozzle]

Now he and one of the other chicks are doing it and I have noticed the other one opens his beak when breathing. They are all perky, running around, eating and drinking just fine. I put vitamin supplements in their water since day 1. I am actually wondering if they may just be panting. It has been so cold at night and I do have their heat light rather low on them, but they sit right under it and there is a cooler side in the brooder. I have a thermometer in there and the temperature between the hot and cold area is about 80 something, seems right where it is supposed to be. Weather has been crazy though, been hard to get the right temperature. This morning it was 16 degrees when I got up and tomorrow it's supposed to be in the 60's.

 

[Snozzle]

The original one got over it, but the little maran is doing very bad. Usually I try to avoid it, but I put him on some antibiotics. Hopefully I gave it in time. All the others are happy, perky and running around, no signs of illness at all. I'm thinking it's the crazy temperatures, rough on humans and animals alike. They are in the garage, away from wild birds, other chickens, drafts and the bedding is dust free, so there is really no other possibility.

 

[megshomestead]

One of my chicks has been doing the same thing, almost panting. Though, unfortunately he died last night.

 

[Snozzle]

I'm sorry to hear that. My little guy seems to be doing a little better today, but he lost weight. I mixed some terramicin, warm water and baby bird handfeeding mix and he has been nibbling on that from an eyedropper. When I just got home I felt his crop and it seems to be pretty full, so he has been eating while I was gone, which is progress.
What breed was your guy if you don't mind me asking? This one is the only maran, the americaunas had a touch of it, but are fine now and my wyandottes never even caught it. Seems to be breed specific whatever it is.

 

[Snozzle]

I spoke too soon, I walked in to give him his meds and he was already gone. I am thinking he may have inhaled some water. The other guys had pushed the marbles out of the water bowl and he was hanging right over it when I got home and when I just now found him there was a lot of fluid around his head. He really began looking better and even started eating on his own again, so something else must have happened. I added antibiotics to the water for all of them as a precautionary measure. It's tetracycline, not sure how long I should keep adding it since they are not showing any symptoms. With dogs and cats it's usually a week to 10 days depending on severity, what about chickens?

 

[megshomestead]

I'm sorry for your loss. Just when you though you nurse them back to health and their doing good, they become weak again and die. I hated seeing that for that week that I got them. I read some articles that said that it's from getting overheated. They go from one extreme to another and it shocks them, or so I think. When we got ours through the mail order from MMH they had been in a cold and drafty mail room for that entire Sunday. I don't happen to know anything about tetracycline. I fed my chicks medicated feed and got them all shots for Marek's disease. I would say just add a little bit a day and once they get better then remove from the water. But I'm no chicken expert I know this post is really late and you probably have fixed the problem but I do hope that your flock is feeling better now.