Peep breathing problem????

[LynneP]

Some people use electrolytes with ampicillin, but I sure hope some experienced owners can help you in a more specific way.

 

[JenMT]

I'm on my way to town too....so far I'm getting Tylan, Aeuromycin, Terramycin, vet RX, and 4 in One nasal spray. Hopefully I'll hear more info on what if any of this I should give her or all of them by the time I'm back home. It sounds like I should just have all of this stuff on hand for emergencies anyway. This is a lot of work, raising baby chicks....whoda thunk? Good luck Vicegrip!

P.S. I'm already doing the yogurt, apple cider vinegar trick and continuting the electrolye/vitamin mix. I learned those tricks from previous entries here yesterday. I think that I may get a heating pad to put under her cage or a hot water bottle (someone suggested).....I have her in a small pet carrier in my bathtub because I have nowhere else to isolate her.

 

[Wynette]

You most definitely need to separate the ill one. Whatever she has, she could easily spread it to the others.

I'm very unsure about what to give to a chick...I've treated adults with respiratory illnesses, but never even heard of a chick so young getting something. The best respiratory meds (IMO) are Tylan water soluble and Gallimycin. Terramycin is a broad spectrum; not specifically for respiratory. Vet RX might be a good thing to try, but if she's got crackling noises already, I'm not sure that it will help at this point. BEST OF LUCK with your chick; please keep us posted.

ETA: The VERY BEST course of action with poultry to always keep in mind is think DRY and CLEAN. Their litter needs to be as dry as possible, and make sure to clean, clean, clean - dishes, feed bowls, etc. Many on hear (as do I) swear by Oxine - it comes in a gallon and is expensive, but you only use like 8 drops per gallon of water, so it goes a long way. I mix it up in a spray bottle (one of those types that you pump up for air pressure - a plant sprayer), and use it liberally each time I clean coops, on the feeders, feed pans, etc. You can even spray this directly into a chicken's face for them to breathe in...I'm not sure if it's okay to do on chicks, you might check into that. You can put Oxine solution into a cool mist hydrator (like a Vicks humidifier) and it puts out a fine mist that they breathe in. This is also a good preventative for respiratory ilness.

 

[silkiechicken]

More info would be good.

Diet, age, type of bedding, any new introduction, weather and so on.

Very young chicks sometimes gasp because of hatching or other fluids getting down the wrong tube when hatching. Sometimes they have issues from the start and result in a failure to thrive.

Older chicks could have aspirated something.

If they are older, separate what you think is sick, if it acts sick.

As for antibiotics, they aren't a cure all, all and giving them cocktails for something that may even be viral is just going to make the antibiotics useless on both the birds when they really need it, such as injury, and yourself, when you need it. Good and bad bacteria can pick up resistance genes, and share them with each other, be they be on the chicks or on your skin.

So if you choose to use an antibiotic, use wisely and do a full course, as viral issues will just keep on going, and bacteria can become resistant with just one use.

 

[Wynette]

Silkiechicken definitely knows about this stuff! Take her words to heart.

 

[vicegrip]

Thanks so much I take all advice to hart and try to learn from all. I will keep you posted.



Thank you and good luck to all you chicken families.

 

[speckledhen]

I agree with silkiechicken. I only give antibioitics when and if they get a serious injury, never for respiratory illness since most of those are viral.

 

[vicegrip]

Do they just get over it or dose it become a bigger problem? Or death?

 

[Wynette]

From my experiences, I've never had one just get over it. They get worse & then die. I'm sorry to be the bearer of bad news...you should do some searches on BYC regarding antibiotic use in respiratory infections. It's a very serious decision...if you do decide to treat, the chick may get well, BUT..she'll then be a carrier for whatever it was she has. Any new birds you bring in could get what she had, and if you ever sell any birds, you are then selling birds that have been exposed to the virus, thereby introducing it to the buyer's flock. It's sad, but true.

 

[vicegrip]

Could it be the pine shavings there kiln dried and screened low dust?