Sick Chick

[Chickenhatcher89]

I have a 4 day old chick that has been perfectly healthy up till now. It makes a clicking sound when it breathes and its not moving around much. I had one die the other day that had very similar symptons. Is there anything I can do to help it. I have become very attached to it and hope I can help it
Thanks,
Rebecca

 

[Chickenhatcher89]

Does anyone have any idea? Its getting much worse.

 

[Pine Grove]

With a chick that young it sounds to be Avian Streptococcosis contracted through hatching eggs. The main symptom in chicks is sleepy,weak chicks that make a clicking sound produced by diseased heart valves

 

[Chickenhatcher89]

Is there anything I can do? Is it contagious to the other eggs in the incubator? I have some that are suppose to hatch in a few days so I can't clean the incubator out. Also is there anything I can do for this chick? It looking pretty bad.
Rebecca

 

[Pine Grove]

Did you hatch these chicks? If so were they several in the batch that didn't hatch, Fully formed that didn't pip. Erythromycin is effective if caught eary enough.
I'm only guessing, But Avian Strep is the only thing I can think of that would cause clicking at this young of age..I would however wash the next batch of eggs(it wont hurt them) and disinfect the incubator

 

[Chickenhatcher89]

Yes I hatched these chicks. I had 13 Polish eggs in the incubator thought I had done everything right about the temperature and humidity but only 2 pipped one died in the egg the other one( the one that is sick now) was almost out so I helped it. Most of them seemed to be fully formed. What caused this to happen? I bought these eggs off of ebay. Was it the persons fault that I bought them from or just something that happens.
Rebecca

 

[Pine Grove]

If indeed it is Strep. I'ts transmitted to the chick through fecal matter on the egg..Strep occurs naturally in the gut, Just when there is an over balance of the bacteria is when it becomes a problem