1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)
3 Wyandotte chicks, 6 weeks old, I haven't weighed them but they feel similar in weight. 1 is more feathered than the others making it look larger.
2 of 3 chicks are affected.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Breathing with an open-beak
chick #1) wheezes/squeaks on every breath
chick #2) just open mouth breaths
chick #3) no symptoms
Sneezing occasionally - sometimes there will be a small spray, sometimes not. There is NO discharge from the nostrils or eyes.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Sneezing - maybe 1 week?
Wheezing/squeaking during breathing - only 1 day
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Only 1 is squeaking on each breath. Chick #2 beathes with it's beak open. This symptom goes away after I put VetRX (like vicks for chicks) on the beak; it can breathe from it's nostrils again. Chick #1 does not improve from VetRX, still squeaks.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
We have had some sunny weather recently, so I let them have time outside in the grass. They have a small circle pen 100ft away from the main flock's fenced range area. It's been 80-90 here, I provide them with shade and water/food when outside.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have been giving PolyViSol and honey mixed in water a few drops by beak daily (honey is an electrolyte).
I have provided oatmeal in addition to the regular medicated feed.
I have given them teramycin anti-biotic in water for the last week or so.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal I think, no blood for sure.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
teramycin, polyvisol, VetRX
the anti-biotic doesn't seem to be doing anything, I think I will replace it with a pro-biotic water soon.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I plan to treat myself, cannot afford to take chickens to vet
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will try to take a video soon
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in a wire dog crate with 6inch cardboard walls around the edges. They have natural wood pellet bedding. With only 3 chicks, this bedding has not been soiled enough to change out. The pellets break down into sawdust when wet; usually I brood a lot more chicks than just 3. With 3, I have never changed the bedding. There isn't very much dust, that is why I use the pellets over pine shavings. I can change the bedding out, but the newer bedding smells strongly of pine so I thought that might be bad timing for a change.
I also unplugged their Brinsea Brooder recently. It is 70-75 in my house, and they also got introduced to the outdoors, so I figured it was time to unplug their heat source. It is now plugged back in since the sick 1 seems to like warmth.
if it is MG, wouldn't there be more discharge from the nostrils and/or eyes? how can I tell if it's MG or not? I have also read about gapeworm, but I can't see anything inside their mouths..
the
3 Wyandotte chicks, 6 weeks old, I haven't weighed them but they feel similar in weight. 1 is more feathered than the others making it look larger.
2 of 3 chicks are affected.
2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Breathing with an open-beak
chick #1) wheezes/squeaks on every breath
chick #2) just open mouth breaths
chick #3) no symptoms
Sneezing occasionally - sometimes there will be a small spray, sometimes not. There is NO discharge from the nostrils or eyes.
3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
Sneezing - maybe 1 week?
Wheezing/squeaking during breathing - only 1 day
4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?
Only 1 is squeaking on each breath. Chick #2 beathes with it's beak open. This symptom goes away after I put VetRX (like vicks for chicks) on the beak; it can breathe from it's nostrils again. Chick #1 does not improve from VetRX, still squeaks.
5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
no
6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
We have had some sunny weather recently, so I let them have time outside in the grass. They have a small circle pen 100ft away from the main flock's fenced range area. It's been 80-90 here, I provide them with shade and water/food when outside.
7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
I have been giving PolyViSol and honey mixed in water a few drops by beak daily (honey is an electrolyte).
I have provided oatmeal in addition to the regular medicated feed.
I have given them teramycin anti-biotic in water for the last week or so.
8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal I think, no blood for sure.
9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
teramycin, polyvisol, VetRX
the anti-biotic doesn't seem to be doing anything, I think I will replace it with a pro-biotic water soon.
10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
I plan to treat myself, cannot afford to take chickens to vet
11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
I will try to take a video soon
12) Describe the housing/bedding in use
They are in a wire dog crate with 6inch cardboard walls around the edges. They have natural wood pellet bedding. With only 3 chicks, this bedding has not been soiled enough to change out. The pellets break down into sawdust when wet; usually I brood a lot more chicks than just 3. With 3, I have never changed the bedding. There isn't very much dust, that is why I use the pellets over pine shavings. I can change the bedding out, but the newer bedding smells strongly of pine so I thought that might be bad timing for a change.
I also unplugged their Brinsea Brooder recently. It is 70-75 in my house, and they also got introduced to the outdoors, so I figured it was time to unplug their heat source. It is now plugged back in since the sick 1 seems to like warmth.
if it is MG, wouldn't there be more discharge from the nostrils and/or eyes? how can I tell if it's MG or not? I have also read about gapeworm, but I can't see anything inside their mouths..
the
