Ok, so my chicks ate some shavings... now what?

[Msbear]

I usually keep my chicks in the hatcher for the first day then put them right onto shavings... never had a problem before. The last two batches I've lost a couple to gasping, wierd chirping sound, heavy breathing, etc. By researching on here, it seems shavings is the culprit. I put them back on paper towels and added some sand to their crumbles and wet them a bit. If they have sour crop, is there something I can do now? ....back to googling

eta: they're a week old.

 

[HerbiLady]

Hi...sorry you're having trouble

Are they pine shavings or cedar shavings? The cedar shaving's aromatic oils can cause respiratory issues and would probably be more detrimental if they ate some. I would think as long as they are good quality pine shavings without a huge amount of dust and they're dry ~ not mildewed or moldy ~ they shouldn't cause a problem like that which sounds sort of like a respiratory issue to me.

I noticed my birds, which were moved to shavings at about a week old, did eat some of the shavings and it freaked me out but I've had no issues at all. They still do eat the tiny bits of shavings that end up on the other chicks' back when they dust bathe in the shavings and I hate it but my chicks are doing very well in spite of it.

I had been giving mine chick grit before they moved onto the shavings from shredded paper. If you think you need to clear their crops, I've read on here about using some bread soaked in olive oil which helps lubricate and move things out of the crop and through their system. But that's not going to help if it's respiratory.

I hope someone with lots of knowledge about chicken illness will jump in and offer some better advice...I'm sorry but this is about all I can think of myself.

Good luck!

 

[Msbear]

Im using a different brand of pine shavings... smaller shavings and, yes, it is a bit dusty

I didn't even think of that. One chick died this morning after severe labored breathing. Im hopping to it now .. thanks!

 

[Backyard_Chicken_rancher]

as long as you give them grit they should be ok mine eat it all the time but I think what it is they don't really eat it the y eat the micro dust off it and then spit the shavings out or at least mine do that, But just give them grit and watch them Buy bigger pine shavings.

 

[HerbiLady]

Awww, poor little mites and poor you! What a bummer !

Hope it's something as simple as that! I'm not sure how you'd remove the dust but I'd definitely increase ventilation and perhaps even use a little water to rinse and then air dry the shavings? Or buy another bag. Do you think dust can cause that severe of a reaction? I don't really know but it's a place to start!

Let us know what you do and if that was it...good luck!

 

[A.T. Hagan]

If they are dusty I'd change shavings. Dust in a semi-enclosed area can be bad for chicks.

But for ordinary shavings I'd brooded hundreds of chicks using them and while they peck and scratch through them I've never had a problem with them doing it.

.....Alan.

 

[Msbear]

I opened the windows and door. I have them in my garage that I've turned into my brooder room. I have three stages of chicks in there so, it is a bit ...broodery but, I wouldn't say that it's really dusty. My youngest ones are on paper towels are are fine. These 1-2 week olds are holding their wings kind of away from their body and low. ..They are also snuggling with eachother in a corner. I have a long 2'x5' brooder with light at one end so they can get in and out of the light. I picked up several of them to feel their crop and it is soft and squishy... like some water is in there but, not a lot of food? Maybe the respitory issues are keeping them from eating? Before I put the papertowels in to cover the shavings, they were scratching and pecking the dust.

right now, Im torn as to what the problem is; eating shavings or inhaling dust but, I'll suspect both deal with them... Hopefully, I'll have good news in a day or so

 

[HerbiLady]

Hmmm...do you think they're too hot maybe? While it would make sense that they would move away from each other if they were too hot, it might be that they're also huddling because they're stressed? Mine will huddle when they're scared of the dark or stressed, no matter what the temperature is.

The wing thing would make me feel like they were too warm but it also is a sign of a distressed/ill chick. Even if they can get out of the light, chicks that age generate a LOT of body heat and just getting out of the light might not be enough. I lost a chick last week because of a too-hot brooder and they could totally get away from the light but not far enough

If they're huddling in the corner away from the light, they could be trying to get away and there's just no where else to go but together to the other end in a big pile of overheated chicks.

Being too hot will smother them...which is also a respiratory issue. And if they've been drinking a ton of water, maybe that's part of it?