Sick chick! Labored breathing with beak open...

[switters]

One of our chicks (buff orpington) has become ill. She's just laying down, not moving much, and her breathing is very labored with her beak open. Here's a video .

Any ideas? Is there anything I can do?

 

[briana1975]

I am not sure. Hopefully someone that knows more then me will help you out. She doesn't look good though.

 

[purpletree23]

What is the temp in the brooder?

 

[switters]

90 degrees. This is the beginning of their second week.

 

[purpletree23]

Is this the only chick that is behaving this way? Is there enough room for the chicks to get out from under the light to a lower temp area of the brooder? What are you feeding them? Any treats? Medicated or non medicated feed?

 

[kathyinmo]

Give us the following information. The more you tell us, the better we will be able to help you.

What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Describe the housing/bedding in use.
Temp at 90, is there also an area away from the direct heat source?
Are there more chicks in with this one?
If so, do they huddle together (as in cold), or possibly try to get away from the direct heat source (as in too warm)?

Any other info you can think of will be helpful.

 

[switters]

Quote:
Thanks for your offer to help.

Here's a picture of the brooder:

The middle area is cooler and not in the direct heat. Bedding is aspen shavings.

There are eight other chicks. All appear healthy. Food is organic chick starter.

The other chicks move in and out of the hotter areas. They aren't huddled together, nor do they appear to be trying to get away from the heat.

However, the sick chick did appear to be trying to get away from the heat. We took her out of the brooder and put her in a cardboard box with aspen shavings. We put a heat lamp above the box, but with only one half of the lamp over the box. It's about 85 degrees in the box right now. It's hard to tell if that's right for her because she isn't moving much.

We thought we should isolate her because we don't know what's making her ill. But the box she's in is kind of small and the heat is uniform in there. Maybe we should find a bigger box so we can make a warmer and cooler area. But she's not moving much on her own anyhow.

 

[kathyinmo]

I don't know about aspen shavings, but I know that pine is prefered. I am wondering if there is some aroma in the aspen (as in cedar) that is causing a problem. I would at least give it a try, with taking it out.

 

[purpletree23]

Do you have any electrolytes you can give her. Any gatorade? Use a dropper to drop the liquid on the top/side of her beak so the liquid slowly goes into her mouth so she doesn't get the liquid into her lungs. I would also give her a boiled egg yolk mashed up with some of the Gatorade so it is not as dry. Is her butt pasty. Is her vent clogged. If so you have to soak her little bottom in warm water and gently wipe away the poop when it is softened. Dry her well and if you have to gently cover her with a wash cloth to keep her warm.

 

[purpletree23]

I agree about the aspen shavings also. The heat lamp might cause some fumes that irritate the chickens. They have very delicate respiratory systems.