Sick Chick...Puffy and sneezing...please advise !

[Jadnils]

Hi, I am new to chickens and have already lost one or possible 2 chicks to sickness. I just bought a BLRW that is 6-7 weeks old on Sat. to replace my poor younger baby that passed last week...she seems to sit puffed up alot, yesterday while holding her, she sneezed 5-6 times and twice this morning.Her stools are small and on the loose side. Her feathers def. look "rumpled " and puffed out alot. Is it a cold? Upper respitory? She is so sweet and I don't want to loose her. I am going to call the lady I bought her from when I get home from work today. She just isn't as bright and spunky as she should be. She was in a cage with 12 other chicks/ ducklings and probably din't get enough to eat as she ate constantly when I brought her home.So, she is eating well now.
Does she need meds? Antibiotics? Please advise and God Bless !

 

[Jadnils]

Well the 2 month old is still sneezing but I think she is feeling better....surprised I didn't get any advice .

 

[little farmer]

Do you guys have a warm section that she can rest in? Tetracycline is a very broad antibiotic. My chicken had a vent gleet and I kept her isolated four 4 days and I mixed the tetracycline in until it was about yellow. My chicken responded to the antibiotic the next day. But I dunno if you wanna try that.............

 

[Jadnils]

I wouldn't mind trying Tetracycline, where would I get some? Do I have to go through a vet of can you get it over the counter someplace?

 

[little farmer]

I got tetracycline at a feed store around our area. Usually if a store has food for chickens and other animals then they probably should have tetracycline. Tetracycline usually is used for swine poultry and cows. The kind that I got for my chicken when she was sick was used just for animals. Hope that helps!!!

 

[Jadnils]

Thanks, ok, so how do you get it into the chicken? eyedropper into the beak?

 

[little farmer]

oh no. The kind that I got the tetracycline is in a packet. Keep the packet sealed in something to keep it from spoiling, but the medicine will last for a really long time. The packet that I got was yellow and what you have to do is it's almost like powder. You mix it in the water until it's a nice yellow. I kept my chicken on that for 4 days. She was isolated. But she had a vent gleet. So I think that it's your call on if you want to isolate her or not. After four days back off the tetracycline and see how she is. Hope she gets better!!!!

 

[Blesser]

You could also try organic ACV (apple cider vinegar) with the "mother" in it, NOT the regular kind of vinegar. Only unpasteurized or organic ACV has the mother in it. I use Braggs, here is a link to the product page on amazon-
http://www.amazon.com/Bragg-Apple-C...WAAE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336403589&sr=8-1

They might sell these at the grocery store, if not any health food store should carry it.

When I raised chicks before, some of them were sneezing and I gave them this, next day they quit sneezing and full of energy. This is what I did- mix 1 TBS in 1/4 cup of water, feed a few drops with an eye dropper. This needs to be strong enough to work since you are giving a small amount. Might have to do this 2-3 times a day for 1-2 days to see effect. Once chick gets better dilute it down to 1 TBS to 4-8 cups water(depends on how strong your bird likes it) as serve as regular drinking water. Use plastic waterers so they do not react with the ACV. I personally drink 2 TBS in 1 cup of water, twice a day and it works wonders!

Hope this helps.

 

[California_chickie]

oh no. The kind that I got the tetracycline is in a packet. Keep the packet sealed in something to keep it from spoiling, but the medicine will last for a really long time. The packet that I got was yellow and what you have to do is it's almost like powder. You mix it in the water until it's a nice yellow. I kept my chicken on that for 4 days. She was isolated. But she had a vent gleet. So I think that it's your call on if you want to isolate her or not. After four days back off the tetracycline and see how she is. Hope she gets better!!!!

Tetra is a lifesaver! It absolutely works & is something I have learned to always have available in an emergency. It's pretty inexpensive considering it lasts forever in powder form and if stored correctly.
But, the number one thing I always use first is ACV like Blesser mentioned above. Braggs is the best but can be hard to find depending on your area. Usually natural foods stores carry it. I use ACV mixed with H20 and add it to the chick pellets twice a day for the first month for all my hatches-- keeps them really healthy and pasty butt free! If you end up using the Tetracycline (and it works!) then you should definitely incorporate the ACV since it has natural enzymes & probiotics (in the braggs version with mother) that will counteract the negative effects of the antibiotics. Your little chicken should be perky n happy in no time! Good luck!

 

[Jadnils]

Thanks, I did go pick up the Tetra today and gave her 3 1/2 eye droppers full this evening. She is holding her head to the side and acts drunk at times...just started this today but has been sneezing for over a week. I also gave her electrolytes in her water. I will see about getting the Braggs and give it to all of them after the rounds of Tetra, thanks for the advice.