Sick chicks help....

[turbobrn]

I have chicks that are about a week old. I got them from a pet store where they had tons of chickens. They say they are not vaccinated but did not tell me I needed medicated food. They are in a cage inside for now. I had one die and another sick. After the one died they told me to put her them on antibiotics. So i did and that has been about 5 days. Now another is sick she is lethargic and looks as if she is panting or gasping. Is there something else to do. And I was also wondering if I should add corid to the water with the antibiotic or with the food. Can you mix them? PLEASE HELP. I don't want another one to die. Or to medicate if not needed. I have been giving her water by syringe but she doesn't want to eat and and just wants to sleep.

 

[Eggcessive]

Actually they could be suffering from shipping stress or be weak chicks. Probably the best thing to give them is vitamins and electrolytes (a product like SaveAChick or other) and just dip their beaks in it as often as you can. Another good product is Poultry Nutri-Drench that you can give 1 ml orally each day. Shipping stress usually is caused by getting dehydrated, cold, too hot, or suffering pasty butt. When they come into feed stores they can have a rough trip. Keeping them clean and dry, and showing them how to drink and eat , keeping them warm with a brooder lamp is usually all it takes. Healthy 1 week old chicks do not usually need antibiotics or Corid. I would talk to the store about getting some healthier chicks. Sorry that you are starting out this way, but people who get chicks shipped to their homes sometimes go through this as well. Here is a good article about shipping stress: http://www.upc-online.org/transport/71408shippingbirds.html

 

[Hholly]

What temperature do you have them at?

 

[turbobrn]

Thanks. My little one didn't make it but I'm hoping that is the last of the sickness. She had been one of the perky ones too eating and drinking and then a it just was all if a sudden.

The temp is between 95-88 and I have a warming pad as well for them to lay on.

This is very discouraging. I didn't buy chickens for them to die and never in a million years would want them to die. It's so sad. I'm not wanting to get anymore chicks right at the moment. I have had 3 die on me and then I had a sick one that I nursed back to health but doesn't sound like she is out of the woods.

 

[Hholly]

Aw, sorry.

 

[Eggcessive]

Sorry for your loss. Maybe you can start over next spring with either hatchery chicks, or new ones from your feed store. It helps to watch the chicks and pick out the healthiest ones, not the ones the clerks pick. There can always be weaker chicks in a shipment, but you have had a really bad experience, and I'm sorry that your first experience was so bad. I would read the chicken forum here, and learn as much as you can about raising chicks and illnesses until you get more someday.

 

[turbobrn]

Thanks I still have some I am just hoping these stay healthy. And yes I am finding out that I should have not let the clerk pick and that I should have bought some different items and not what she had me buy. Thanks again.