Respiratory issues in chicks

[GuineaFowling]

Hi y’all, I haven’t posted in ages because I got out of chicken rearing, but my family wants fresh eggs again (the guineas don’t help us here lol) so we purchased a few baby chicks. They are about 2 weeks old as of today. One of them came down with a respiratory illness. She’s sneezing, has runny nares, and is starting to get lethargic. She’s been this way for 3 days now. Unfortunately, antibiotics have been pulled from shelves at all feedstores due to a California law. This means I can only get them with a presicription, and sadly, it’s hard enough finding an avian vet and even harder finding one that sees poultry. I ordered doxycycline from the internet from Thomas Labs. Not sure if anyone’s heard of them. Unfortunately, it’s not gonna be here for another week. What can I do in the meant time for my chick. I haven’t had chickens for so long (and my guineas haven’t been sick once in the ten years I’ve had them) I’m a little lost.

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you get the chicks from a breeder? It sounds like they might have a respiratory virus or MG. I would make sure they are drinking well, and put some water into a small dish of feed as well. Can you try to get something from a local vet in the morning? Doxycycline may help if it is MG. Are you getting the tablets or powder? Do you have any friends who have chickens or antibiotics? Do feed stores in CA still sell Tylan 50 injectable for cattle? That would treat MG.

 

[GuineaFowling]

No, I purchased them from a local feed store. The feed store gets them from a hatchery. I’ve tried looking for tylan 50 injectables but they are also unavailable. I ordered the tablet form of doxy I believe you put it in water and it dissolves. I’m going to call more vet offices tomorrow to see if I can simply pick up a prescription even if they don’t see poultry. Unfortunately, my friends with chickens also don’t have any antibiotics. If they’re birds get respiratory illnesses they cull the entire flock and start over after sterilizing everything. I don’t care to do that since I’m not breeding or selling eggs.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Called a few more vet offices and they said they’d need to see the patient before writing a prescription but they also don’t see poultry :/

 

[Eggcessive]

I got Baytril (enrofloxacin) in 2 days from this company if FL, and with shipping and tax, it was $31:
https://www.jedds.com/shop/misc/

Dosage is 0.05 ml per pound twice a day for 5-6 days. You would need to buy a 1 ml syringe from a pharmacy for a chick. 0.05 ml is a tiny amount. Baytril does treat MG. But since you live in CA, it might take longer to get.

 

[Eggcessive]

I just wanted to mention to make sure that your brooder has good overhead ventilation, and keep bedding clean and dry as possible.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Thanks! Would you recommend the powder form of baytril or the liquid?

 

[ChickyChickyGirl]

Call the store and find out what hatchery they got their shipment from. Notify them, and an “official”, as they could be sending more and more infected birds to paying customers.

 

[Eggcessive]

The 10% liquid is what I would use, and give it orally, not in the water with my directions.

 

[GuineaFowling]

Call the store and find out what hatchery they got their shipment from. Notify them, and an “official”, as they could be sending more and more infected birds to paying customers.

I’ve already notified the feed store when I went in to look for antibiotics and they said they’d speak to their supplier about it.