Please please please help! Possible respiratory illness in 1 week old chicken

[TroubledChicken]

Hello all!

I am extremely proud to say that I have successfully hatched out 8 of 12 eggs in my first attempt at incubating chicken eggs! Postal eggs and all!

I had assumed that the hardest part was over but after losing one of my darlings to what I suspect was a slipped tendon; I am now faced with the challenge of what could possibly be a respiratory illness developing in one of my 8 chicks.

I have 4 Australorps and 4 Barnevelders. One of the Australorps has since day one been extremely larger then any of the other chicks and has continued to be so for the week after their hatch - coincidently she is the one showing signs of illness. She will shake her head occasionally, she lays down and sleeps more than the others and upon further inspection I could hear when I placed my ear close to her, a strange occasional clicking/rasping noise coming from her although the noise didn't seem to be in sync with her breathing. I've seen her sneeze once or twice as well as wipe her face often on the ground. The other chicks aren't showing any of these signs and all (including the sick one) are happy to eat, forage and drink. She isn't showing any signs of mucus or gunk coming from her beak, nose, ears or eyes.

Is there any type of medication the chicks can receive even if they aren't infected? Just to be on the safe side? I live a long way away from where I can get anything to help them and anything I order in the mail will take a week for it to arrive. I'm thinking I ought to get something ordered soon in case it is a respiratory problem but the problem is, I don't know what I'll need!

Any advice anyone has would be extremely appreciated! Being my first hatch I'm watching the chicks like a hawk so perhaps I'm just being dramatic! Nevertheless, any suggestions anyone has would be soaked up like a sponge!

 

[dfalco]

I wish I could be of help, but I'm too new to chickens. How's the chick doing now?

 

[dfalco]

Maybe this link will help.
http://www.fresheggsdaily.com/2013/04/natural-remedies-for-respiratory-issues.html?m=1

 

[Nyla]

VetRx is sold at tractor supply. Follow the instructions on the bottle and use a spray bottle to spry it all over the chick. It smells like vix vapor rub! It works amazingly for sick birds. It cleared up my laying hens respiratory infection within 2 days! Also you can mix Sav-A- Chick Electrolyte & Vitamin Supplement and Sav-A-Chick Probiotic in their water and it will boost their immunity and give them energy and strength to fight off and protect them selves from being sick. All three are sold at tractor supply or any feed store. They work wonders! I always have them on hand.

 

[TroubledChicken]

Thank you both so much for your suggestions! I will order the Electrolyte, Probiotic and the VetRx today and in the mean time, perhaps try some of the herbal remedies in the link that dfalco mentioned.
The chick seems happy today but is still showing the same symptoms. Even if it does turn out to be nothing, I think starting to build a chicken first aid kit will be very reassuring!

 

[Nyla]

Also if you can't get the electrolyte and probiotics today, you can just mix sugar in their water. I don't do it because ant's are bad in my area but you can give it a try!

 

[Nyla]

If you need help building a med kit for poultry, I can share what all I have for mine! I have Muscovy ducks and quails. I just sold all my chickens but my med kit is still the same for all.

 

[TroubledChicken]

Sugar it is! It's the middle of winter where I am at the moment so the ants have gone into hiding, or at least I'll find out soon enough if they haven't!

I would love to know what you keep on hand for your flocks! Being my first hatch, I stupidly didn't even consider having options for them if they were to get sick so I'm in need of creating a medical kit!

 

[Nyla]

Okay my Med Kit has:
2x- Electrolyte & Vitamin Supplement (comes in 3 packs)
2x- Sav-A-Chick Probiotic (comes in 3 packs)
2x- VetRx
2x- Nutri-Drench Poultry 4oz ( You may want this.)

• The finest nutrition support for all poultry
• Keep on hand for animals off feed and other emergencies
  • 
    Used for:
  • Shipping and heat stress
  • Weak newborns
  • Diarrhea
  • Appetite
  • Vitamin deficiencies

2x- Rooster Booster Pick-No-More Cover-Up Lotion
2x- Manna Pro Microcyn 8oz
1x- Durvet Vitamins & Electrolytes
1x- Vetericyn Plus
2x- Wazine 8oz
2x- Scalex Mite & Lice Spray 8 oz
2x- Breeding Saddles
10x- Vet Wrap
2x- Vetericyn Opthalmic Gel 3oz
1x- Mix-N-Measure Cup 16oz
2x- GroGel Plus B 100 Dose
10x- Gauze
10x- Alcohol Pads
2x- Blu-Kote 4oz

------------------------------------------------
I like to keep all this stuff on hand to be prepared for future problems!

 

[TroubledChicken]

Oh my goodness! That certainly is a cover all bases kit - fantastic!
I will use it for inspiration and slowly start to build mine.

My little chicken seems to be doing a lot better after adding some sugar to the water. I also moved them all into a larger brooder and ditched the pine shavings I had them on previously. I think that the shavings were too dusty and wasn't making for a very good house.

Again, thank you so much for your suggestions!