Random chicks...

[Mamatomany123]

Ok, so I just went out to my chicken coop to refill waterer, food, ect and heard chicks cheeping. I currently have 9 week olds (along with my adult hens) and thought it was just them as they still make those cheap noises so I didnt investigate further. Went out to check gather eggs and heard louder cheeping and realized the cheeps arent coming from my 9 week olds. Investigated and found 4 babies in my run. Maybe a day or so old. WTH? I dont have a rooster and these chicks are not even a breed I have so I know my girls didnt secretly hatch any. I gathered them up, put them in an old crate I have and gave them water, food, and heat but 1.) I have no idea where they came from. Did some kid buy chicks at tractor supply, parents said no and they just threw them into my run??(my neighbors all know we have chickens) and 2.) My flock MAY be MG positive. Not 100% sure that's what they had but it's a possibility. Obviously these chicks were exposed because they were in the run with my chickens. Are they going to die? I cant imagine treating them if they start showing symptoms. I dont even think I could figure out their weight they're so small. Ugh, I really need to get cameras in my backyard. The chicks look healthy but I really think they're just a few days old

 

[dawg53]

The mystery chicks lol. Why do you suspect your birds might have MG, and can you explain the symptoms you observed and any treatments?

 

[Mamatomany123]

The mystery chicks lol. Why do you suspect your birds might have MG, and can you explain the symptoms you observed and any treatments?

They had swollen eyes,nasal and mouth discharge, rattled breathing. I treated them with tylan 3x a day for 5 days. Heres a picture of 1 the day I found her sick and 1 day after treatment. 6 of my 10 hens showed horrible symptoms. The other 4 showed no symptoms. The 4 chicks that were 6 weeks old also showed zero symptoms. I'm not 100% sure it was MG but am considering it as an option. No birds died so I never sent one in for testing. It did happen right after our texas snowmageddon and we got down to -20F so I'm not sure if that could have caused any illnesses either.

 

[dawg53]

Did you smell a foul odor around the head of any your sick birds?

You are right to be concerned about the new chicks. Just ensure the chicks are fed chick starter. I'd use medicated chick starter if I were you and provide sav-a-chick or an equivalent for a healthy immune system.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Did you smell a foul odor around the head of any your sick birds?

You are right to be concerned about the new chicks. Just ensure the chicks are fed chick starter. I'd use medicated chick starter if I were you and provide sav-a-chick or an equivalent for a healthy immune system.

No smell. Honestly, I'm not even 100% sure the tylan was working or if it just started getting better in it's own. I didnt see improvement in all but 1 bird until day 5 and 1 didnt show complete improvement until around week 2. (I only gave tylan for 5 days) that's kind of why I'm unsure if it was even MG or if it could have been something like contagious bronchitis instead.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Did you smell a foul odor around the head of any your sick birds?

You are right to be concerned about the new chicks. Just ensure the chicks are fed chick starter. I'd use medicated chick starter if I were you and provide sav-a-chick or an equivalent for a healthy immune system.

Oh, also I am giving both, medicated starter feed and sav-a-chick in the water. Mainly because I dont know where they came from or how long they were outside without heat. We are only in the low 30s in the mornings.

 

[dawg53]

The reason I asked if there was a foul odor around the head, would indicate coryza. I'm glad it wasnt coryza, it's a nasty disease.

I suspect MG which would make your birds carriers. I'm afraid you'll have to hang on to the chicks or cull them.

 

[Mamatomany123]

The reason I asked if there was a foul odor around the head, would indicate coryza. I'm glad it wasnt coryza, it's a nasty disease.

I suspect MG which would make your birds carriers. I'm afraid you'll have to hang on to the chicks or cull them.

If they survive I'll go ahead and keep them. My main worry is that they show the horrible signs my older girls did. The older ones almost died. I cant imagine the chicks surviving that.

 

[dawg53]

If they survive I'll go ahead and keep them. My main worry is that they show the horrible signs my older girls did. The older ones almost died. I cant imagine the chicks surviving that.

Let's hope for the best!