sick baby chick.. please help!

[abarker87]

Hi, I received three baby chicks a week ago, they were two days old at the time. A few days ago, one started sneezing. I didn't think anything about it until yesterday when it was sneezing and blowing bubbles from its nose and mouth. It also has diarrhea that smells really bad and it poos way more frequently than the others. It also is only breathing from its mouth and breathing harder than the others. But other than that, it's chirping, active, eating and drinking and seems fine! I'm not sure if there is anything I can do to help it, or if this is even anything to be too concerned with? Any suggestions or information would be so appreciated.. :-(

 

[Eggcessive]

Did they come from a hatchery, feed store, or a breeder? Is there clean pine shavings and no ammonia odor in the brooder? Baby chicks usually don't get exposed to diseases this early unless they have come from a chicken farm or have been outside on the ground already. Hopefully it is just something with the one chick that won't affect the others.

 

[abarker87]

They came from a feed store where they said they came from a farm. No ammonia scents either.. Is it normal for them to be sneezing, maybe it will just go away?

 

[Eggcessive]

Baby chicks do occasionally sneeze if there is dust or dusty feed that gets in the nose, but they don't blow bubbles out of the nose usually. I would call the feed store if the symptoms get worse. I really hate suggesting medications for baby chicks because that just doesn't seem to be a good way for you to start out giving antibiotics for respiratory diseases. Many respiratory bugs are viruses which don't respond to antibiotics, some are mycoplasmas, and some bacterial. I'm hoping for you that this is just a temporary thing that you can watch, and it will get better.

 

[abarker87]

We've heard to mix apple cider vinegar with their water.. Is this something you have heard of? Thanks so much for your responses, I'm hoping it gets better

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, ACV is supposed to be the cure-all according to many, but don't use it on your baby chicks since it may irritate their intestines. Later on it won't hurt them if you use it occasionally, but they really don't need it. I would rather put some probiotics into their water a couple of times a week along with a poultry vitamin. Give us an update on your little one, and I'm hoping it gets better.