Sneezing Week Old Chicks!

[azygous]

I certainly can identify with being out in the middle of no-where, but you're faced with a lot more challenges than I have. You need to be resourceful, and it sure does sound like you are. Try to be confident that your resourcefulness is going to carry your new babies through.

There's a good chance these chicks picked up a respiratory virus from their egg donor through the egg. If so, it's not the end of the world. Even without antibiotics, with good care and a goal to reduce stress as much as possible, your chicks should recover.

The symptoms were no doubt set off by the stress of the long trip and now the new surroundings. You're doing well to keep them warm and comfortable and the cave will give them comfort and security, further reducing stress. Make sure their water is tepid and not cold. You might try fermenting their chick food to liberate more nutrients and probiotics.

Just put the feed in a small juice pitcher and cover with warm water. Add a teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar if you have it to start the ferment. Or you can add the liquid from some yogurt. You can settle for just plain water, but the ferment will take longer.

You'll know when it's ready when you see it puff up and give off a slightly yeasty smell. Serve it in a container that is small enough the chicks won't go swimming in their food. You can make more by just adding water and more dry feed.

If you concentrate on their care and optimal nutrition, they should recover just splendidly.

 

[lena_]

I certainly can identify with being out in the middle of no-where, but you're faced with a lot more challenges than I have. You need to be resourceful, and it sure does sound like you are. Try to be confident that your resourcefulness is going to carry your new babies through.

There's a good chance these chicks picked up a respiratory virus from their egg donor through the egg. If so, it's not the end of the world. Even without antibiotics, with good care and a goal to reduce stress as much as possible, your chicks should recover.

The symptoms were no doubt set off by the stress of the long trip and now the new surroundings. You're doing well to keep them warm and comfortable and the cave will give them comfort and security, further reducing stress. Make sure their water is tepid and not cold. You might try fermenting their chick food to liberate more nutrients and probiotics.

Just put the feed in a small juice pitcher and cover with warm water. Add a teaspoon of unfiltered apple cider vinegar if you have it to start the ferment. Or you can add the liquid from some yogurt. You can settle for just plain water, but the ferment will take longer.

You'll know when it's ready when you see it puff up and give off a slightly yeasty smell. Serve it in a container that is small enough the chicks won't go swimming in their food. You can make more by just adding water and more dry feed.

If you concentrate on their care and optimal nutrition, they should recover just splendidly.

Thank you. The water is always tepid to warm, and I change the bottle every four or so hours, so it never really has the chance to get cold. As for fermented feed, I can't see why it's not worth a try. Can it have any ill affects on chicks, like would changing feed cause extra stress? How long roughly does it take to ferment?
Thanks for helping, I really want these babies to pull through. Aside from sneezing and that popping noise(As well as pink-orange globs in their poop) they are running around, eating, drinking and just showing all the signs of happy chicks.
Thanks for the help, I appreciate it alot.

 

[lena_]

Adorable chicks!
I’m not sure about the poop, it does look a little odd, but if treatment is expensive and hard to get, I guess you have to weigh your options. Moving them to chick starter was great, so that could have caused the change in poop. The sneezing is concerning so keep an eye on them. They are beautiful.
Paper towels would be fine to put in the brooder floor. Do you have wood shavings or something to change to when they get older? Do you have a coop for them later?

I'm a minor(Under 18) living with with my Mom and Stepdad, and unfortunately don't have any money. It would cost 34 dollars to get the treatment shipped up, and my Mom is skeptical that they even have cocci. Aside from sneezing and the popping noise(and the pinkish-orange globs in the poop) the chicks seem healthy, they run, scratch, eat drink and sleep like any other chick should.
I have a larger plastic tub that'll switch to when they get a bit bigger, and then they'll go in the coop(it needs a bit of work and to be moved)It is extremely stressful, but I'm trying my best to care of them.

 

[lena_]

Yes! Treat for coccidiosis cause the stress of being ill or the illness itself can bring it on. It won't hurt or have negative effects on them even if they don't have it. If they are sneezing but are alert and eating, I wouldn't worry. Let their little bodies build an immunity to it so it doesn't keep popping up every time they get stressed. Wanna keep them hardy and not jump in for antibiotics unless it's an absolute must.

Thanks. The dosage is like 25 mls to every 10 litres and I think thats pretty good. However shipping and buying it is 34 dollars, so I'll have to beg my parents for it. Unfortuately I don't have an avain vet that can help me and issue antibiotics, which is a real pain. Thanks, and I'll keep you updated.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Goodluck hun and keep us updated. A good holistic approach is to feed fresh oregano to your birds as it has anti viral and anti bacterial properties. Most grocery stores should sell it.

 

[azygous]

I doubt you chicks have had time to develop coccidiosis. As long as they're happy and active instead of listless, they could have coccidia in their intestines, but their healthy immune systems will build a resistance to these parasites. Most chickens carry some coccidia but never get sick as long as they stay healthy.

Fermented feed takes about two days the first time you do it. After that, if you just use some of the first batch as a starter, the ferment can occur in just 24 hours. Most of us keep two containers going, so we have a new batch ready to feed as we use the last of the first batch. You can adjust the consistency by using more water for a soupy mix or more feed for a dryer consistency. A dryer consistency is advisable for chicks as they have a habit of literally diving into their food.

 

[FishMtFarm]

I doubt you chicks have had time to develop coccidiosis. As long as they're happy and active instead of listless, they could have coccidia in their intestines, but their healthy immune systems will build a resistance to these parasites. Most chickens carry some coccidia but never get sick as long as they stay healthy.

Fermented feed takes about two days the first time you do it. After that, if you just use some of the first batch as a starter, the ferment can occur in just 24 hours. Most of us keep two containers going, so we have a new batch ready to feed as we use the last of the first batch. You can adjust the consistency by using more water for a soupy mix or more feed for a dryer consistency. A dryer consistency is advisable for chicks as they have a habit of literally diving into their food.

I'm not telling you your wrong but I do wanna point out that we did have chicks that were 5 days old test positive and they weren't sick and were kept very clean. All birds have it and even healthy ones can have the numbers get out of control. With that being said, proactive with treatment won't hurt the chicks like other medications.

 

[azygous]

I'm not telling you your wrong but I do wanna point out that we did have chicks that were 5 days old test positive and they weren't sick and were kept very clean. All birds have it and even healthy ones can have the numbers get out of control. With that being said, proactive with treatment won't hurt the chicks like other medications.

Yes, you're quite correct - all chickens likely carry coccidia in their intestines but most develop resistance as I did point out.

Our OP lives in a very isolated area, and access to medications is very limited, if not nearly impossible. Therefore, the best course of action is keeping the chicks in tip-top health by optimizing the nutrients in their feed, which the OP has said they plan to do.

 

[FishMtFarm]

Oh I thought I read someplace they could order it. My bad.

 

[lena_]

Chicks are still active and happy. They are eating, drinking and enjoying their cave. It's really early in the morning at the moment, but when I'm more awake I'll start the fermented feed. They are still sneezing and popping... I'll try my best to get Mom and Stepdad to maybe order treatment for cocci, but it'll have to be on Monday, as the only person I can find that sells it only ships on weekdays.

Oh I thought I read someplace they could order it. My bad.

Thanks,I can order it, but it'll take a long time to arrive, and unfortunately I don't have alot of money. I have a non-rural adress I can ship it to(My Aunt's house) but it's still quite expensive. I can try find oregano nearby, thanks for the advice, I appreciate it alot!

I doubt you chicks have had time to develop coccidiosis. As long as they're happy and active instead of listless, they could have coccidia in their intestines, but their healthy immune systems will build a resistance to these parasites. Most chickens carry some coccidia but never get sick as long as they stay healthy.

Fermented feed takes about two days the first time you do it. After that, if you just use some of the first batch as a starter, the ferment can occur in just 24 hours. Most of us keep two containers going, so we have a new batch ready to feed as we use the last of the first batch. You can adjust the consistency by using more water for a soupy mix or more feed for a dryer consistency. A dryer consistency is advisable for chicks as they have a habit of literally diving into their food.

Thanks, is Fermented feed beneficial for older chickens as well?