Respiratory / Breathing in 1 week old Chicks

[Eggcessive]

Mycoplasma gallisepticum can be passed through the egg, although most probably would not hatch. I'm not trying to argue with you at all, but most of the literature says that respiratory diseases tend to show up around the age of 3 weeks in baby chicks. I really hope this doesn't sour you on getting more chicks. It's always nice to try hatching your own, but hatchery chicks can be very healthy, and a good way to start out. Some hatcheries such as Meyer Hatchery in Polk, Ohio will ship as few as 3-4 chicks for extra shipping. Personally, I like to get at least 15 to help with body heat. You may want to wait for summer heat to cool around the first of September. Here is a link to read about the common respiratory and other diseases: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ps044

 

[Raiz]

I originally thought mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was the cause, however the Tylan 50 should have taken care of that, right? That's why I've moved on to infectious brochitis (IB).

 

[Eggcessive]

Since they are only one week old, I just meant that it may be too early to show symptoms of MG or other respiratory diseases. In chicks, it is most common after 3-4 weeks. MG and IB can occur at the same time, as well as E.coli infection. It may start with one disease, and then secondary infections may occur. I just get the feeling that this is related to the incubator or the chicks. An incubator infection such as staph, strep, e.coli or other bacteria, could infect any eggs. Since you actually has some bad eggs, that could be the cause. Your state vet can be contacted for a necropsy on a chick to find a cause. Here is a link for that: http://www.usaha.org/Portals/6/StateAnimalHealthOfficials.pdf

 

[Raiz]

I'm in Virginia, and unfortunately Richmond is several hours away. I'll call the local clinics and see if they can help.

 

[Raiz]

Just wanted to provide an update. Of the original 8 chicks that hatched, 2 are left alive, but they are experiencing symptoms. I've got them on water soluble Tylan antibiotics and am giving a couple drops of Poly-Vi-Sol per day to help them live as long as possible, but I'm sure they'll die like the rest.

A list of the things I've tried include:
1. Corid in the water
2. Probiotics & Electrolyte packets from TSC
3. Injectable Tylan 50 given orally
4. Minced garlic in the water
5. Apple Cider Vinegar in the water
6. Changing feed and water daily
7. Soluble Tylan in the water with Poly-Vi-Sol

-The first sign is always an increased breathing rate, followed by pasty butt. They continue to eat and drink with the others for a couple days.
-The next day or two they begin to sit there with their eyes closed, start to have trouble walking, and the breathing becomes faster and faster. The poop becomes runny, but there is no sign of blood.
-Then they start to breath with their mouths open, panting, even though they are not hot. This all happens 6-10 days after hatching. Their eyes are not crusty as far as I can tell. They chirp when they breathe.

If it was MB, I would think there would be improvement with the antibiotic treatments.
If it was Coccidiosis, the Corid should have taken care of it. There is no blood in the poop.
I believe it is either Infectious Bronchitis or Infectious Laryngotracheitis, but it could also be E.coli as Eggcessive suggested.

If anyone has a suggestion about another form of treatment, please let me know. I'd be happy to even save 2 of them.

 

[mkessler14]

How close is the light to the top of the tub? I just started with my first batch of chicks this past winter and I had the same issues. Once I moved one of the lights up higher, the chicks did fine and I didn't lose any more. Try moving one of the heat lamps up higher.

 

[Raiz]

About 3 feet. It's a red colored light that you get at TSC. The chicks like to be right underneath it. Any higher and they start crawling all over one another. Any lower and they just move to the opposite side of the brooder. The temp is around 95 deg at the center of the light, around 83 at the edge of the brooder.

 

[Raiz]

As a last ditch effort, I've ordered some Baytril from here:
http://www.allbirdproducts.com/newproductpages/baytril.html

If it is E.coli, this should take care of it from what I'm reading. If it doesn't, I throw my hands in the air and take em to the state vet for a necropsy. Hopefully these last two stay alive long enough for the Baytril to arrive. One of the chicks is breathing pretty fast all the time.

For fun, I took them outside yesterday and let them run around in the grass. It's pretty warm here and they seemed to have a great time chasing the bugs around. Since they are the last two alive, these two seem to have really bonded. If I take one to go wash the runny mess off of his butt, the other one goes crazy chirping and running around the in the brooder.

 

[Raiz]

I noticed another symptom I hadn't heard before. When I hold the chick up to my ear, I hear a crackling noise coming from their chests. The crackling sounds like bubbles popping after you've washed dishes in the sink. Does this new clue help point to any of the specific illnesses? I was thinking maybe Aspergillosis. If it is Aspergillosis, then antibiotics can actually be a bad thing.

I stopped using the Tylan soluble, because after 3 days it wasn't helping. I put a bit of VetRx on their beaks, a few drops in the water. Does anyone recommend diluting it in water and putting it down their throat or nostrils?

 

[Raiz]

The two chicks are still alive, but slowly going downhill. The small one has a large abdomen and is having trouble walking. Both have fast breathing.

I mixed the 10% Baytril solution into their water on Friday. I saw no improvement over the weekend. From what I'm reading, the Baytril should act fairly quickly. This leads me to believe IB or IL as the culprits, and that the chicks will continue their slow decline and pass away by the end of the week.