Resp. for australorps. (3 weeks old)

[Druantai]

Hello there.

Recently I built a coop and purchased some chicks at 2 weeks old. I bought 5 from a local breeder for about $25. I was willing to go 5 a pop because I wanted australorps. However, within 24 hours 4 of the 5 chickens started showing respiotory issues i.e. sneezing, coughing, and running crusty nasal passages and eyes. The eyes was the first symptom, it started with 1 eye on 1 chick, and spread.

I watched my baby die and couldn't do anything for her. I feel like ****, really. I hate death, and it was the first time I ever held a dead...anything. I realize what death is, but I loved that chicken from the moment I picked her up. She would lay next to me while I read, and cluck and be my shadow. Her sisters are dying from what she had. The breeder insist it's just a cold, but medicine doesn't work.

The eyes have a ball of waxy like substance, yellow in apperence, I removed them from the chicks, and they would seem healthier, but the next morning it's back to square one. I think I might have to put them down, but I don't know how.

Guys, if you can help me with my babies, please please please...any information would be useful.

Also, because the realist side of me wants to say culling may be an option, i need to know how to do humanely, and quick. I want them to go knowing I care and I love them.

 

[Cloverleaf Farm]

Chickens don't get "colds" ...if you want to have any recourse against the breeder (which I highly suggest, since they are being dishonest) you need necropsies from a veterinary lab (not just your vet, they can't test for the things that need to be tested for).

It sounds like you are too emotionally attached to them to be able to put them down the quickest, most painless way for them, so I would suggest that you take them to your vet to be euthanized. IF the one other one died within a day, double bag her and put her in the frige (not the freezer) to keep her fresh for the vet lab.

Sorry about your babies!!

Also, make sure you know what you're dealing with, and get advice from your state vet's office about how to clean your coop, etc, otherwise, any other birds you bring in can still get sick from this even after your current birds are gone....

 

[De Wet]

Hello there.

Recently I built a coop and purchased some chicks at 2 weeks old. I bought 5 from a local breeder for about $25. I was willing to go 5 a pop because I wanted australorps. However, within 24 hours 4 of the 5 chickens started showing respiotory issues i.e. sneezing, coughing, and running crusty nasal passages and eyes. The eyes was the first symptom, it started with 1 eye on 1 chick, and spread.

I watched my baby die and couldn't do anything for her. I feel like ****, really. I hate death, and it was the first time I ever held a dead...anything. I realize what death is, but I loved that chicken from the moment I picked her up. She would lay next to me while I read, and cluck and be my shadow. Her sisters are dying from what she had. The breeder insist it's just a cold, but medicine doesn't work.

The eyes have a ball of waxy like substance, yellow in apperence, I removed them from the chicks, and they would seem healthier, but the next morning it's back to square one. I think I might have to put them down, but I don't know how.

Guys, if you can help me with my babies, please please please...any information would be useful.

Also, because the realist side of me wants to say culling may be an option, i need to know how to do humanely, and quick. I want them to go knowing I care and I love them.

they were cold carriers before you buy it, the stress causing by the transfer from one place to a another trigger the symtoms that why it was normal before you buy it and after become ill. I will sugest that where you buy your birds they also exam there birds by a vet or other wise the whole region will have host birds with a desease, there is some meds for colds but acording to the wise it will always a carrier even it have no symtoms and must been culled

 

[Octoberlyn]

So when a bird is sick it should ALWAYS be culled? There is no getting them better and having them return to the flock?

 

[De Wet]

So when a bird is sick it should ALWAYS be culled? There is no getting them better and having them return to the flock?

some people always culled them because they will carriers for live but my advice is to examine it by the vet which cold is that, coryza will not tranfer to the eggs, but if it is MG it is better to cull because the sickness transfer into the eggs but it is hard for me to cull i never culled any animals of mine due to cold sickness I always try till the end to safe the bird exspecialy the the exspensive ones. It also better to if decided to keep the birds after there is normal symtomskeep them seperate in a pen away from healthy birds

 

[Octoberlyn]

Thank you - glad I'm not the only one who doesn't immediately think of culling.

 

[Druantai]

Hello and thanks for all the responses. I did indeed have to cull the chicks, and as it turns out..they had Salmonella.

Of course I've made the proper arrangements to have everything sanatized, location of the coop moved and the rest of my flock (Gnome- Barred rock, Rihanna- Polish, and Mu - Australorp)

Mu, keeps bobbing her head up and down, but from what I've read that's normal for chicken's..something about crop and digestion.

Again guys, thanks for the help with everything, I appreciate every bit of information passed, and I know my ladies do as well.

 

[Octoberlyn]

How were able to have salmonella diagnosed? did you have a necropsy done?

 

[De Wet]

Hello and thanks for all the responses. I did indeed have to cull the chicks, and as it turns out..they had Salmonella.

Of course I've made the proper arrangements to have everything sanatized, location of the coop moved and the rest of my flock (Gnome- Barred rock, Rihanna- Polish, and Mu - Australorp)

Mu, keeps bobbing her head up and down, but from what I've read that's normal for chicken's..something about crop and digestion.

Again guys, thanks for the help with everything, I appreciate every bit of information passed, and I know my ladies do as well.

salmonella they same us food poisoning?

 

[Druantai]

I did not have a necrospy done. I'm a really poor college student, and because my birthday is near, I was able to pull together
enough money to get a nice smaller pen built. I'm trying to do this on a budget and I allowed myself to get too personally attached
and my selfish nature seems to have gotten my babies sick.

I diagnosed it myself, using internet tools and google.

Lethargic, waxy coating underneath eyelids was the most prolific symptom that wasn't able to be cured. I watched my little birdies
waddle around, half blind and when I let them free-roam in the back yard (Tall fencing, no holes or escape) the poor things would just
lay down next to me and sleep. I'd get them to eat and drink, but it seemed like that was all too much. I put down Ladybird myself because
she was blind, coughing (nothing in her throat), and general refusal to live.

That all being said, regardless of what I can do better next time..i got a sour breeder give me ill chicks, the transport and stress of it all
got some of them sick and they had to be culled. I just got super emotional, and while it's okay to do that..it's best to take a step back and think
for awhile, which is once again why I'm so greatful for this forum.

On a slight note, so I do not have to dive through research, why would a 3 week old aus make an up and down movement with her head? Like, almost all the time.

Also, they're awake and eating at 4:30 in the morning. Is that normal?

Some links to chicken behavior would be great!