Sick?

[98Luna]

My 6-7 week old chick Grizelda is acting weird. She (i hope a she) is stretching her neck out to breathe and constantly shakes her head. She did this a few days ago and then got better, but now its back. Any way I can fix this?
Also, she makes a really hoarse chirping sound instead of a squeaky one like the others.

 

[TTracy]

Sounds like gapeworm. Here are a couple of links for you to check out and see if it is gapeworm or not.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/626463/gape-worm

http://www.helium.com/items/1760044-gapeworms-in-chickens-causes-and-treatment

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

If it is gapeworm, you can take a q-tip and swab her throat. There will be blood on the cotton if they are present.
They'll also shake their heads stretch their necks/gape to breathe if they're having respiratory issues. The hoarse sound could be something fungal.
Have you noticed anything like wet bedding or mold in the coop. Does she have a runny nose, discharge from her eyes, sneezing, coughing, weird poop, ect? Have you looked her over for external parasites?

 

[ten chicks]

My 6-7 week old chick Grizelda is acting weird. She (i hope a she) is stretching her neck out to breathe and constantly shakes her head. She did this a few days ago and then got better, but now its back. Any way I can fix this?
Also, she makes a really hoarse chirping sound instead of a squeaky one like the others.

Does she have access to grit?

 

[cafarmgirl]

Gapeworm isn't all that common and I'd be very surprised to see it in such a young bird. Certainly not impossible but I'd be surprised.

I would check to see if the bedding is dusty or has wet spots. I was also wondering the same as ten chicks, if the chicks have access to grit? And do you have older birds on the property?

 

[98Luna]

I have older birds, a larger flock of seven, previously eight until last week. I don't feed them grit, but they run around outside the coop for about 45 mins a day, scratching around. I don't think it could be gapeworm, none of my others have had it, but I'll check later. I did clean out the coop yesterday afternoon, it was a bit damp. I'm hoping that fixes it.
They are fed layer pellets, parrot/chick pellets, bread and pretty much a share of what my other flock eats.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Have any of your older birds ever shown signs of respiratory illness, whether recently or in the past?

 

[98Luna]

Have any of your older birds ever shown signs of respiratory illness, whether recently or in the past?

nope, never as long as I've had them.

 

[TTracy]

How is she doing?

 

[98Luna]

How is she doing?

Good, she looks completely healthy at the moment, but I still have my eye on her.