Third chick out of 8 sick! What is this???

[Shannon's Chix]

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
procelain d'uccle bantam, 1.5 weeks, unknown weight

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Noticed not walking around this afternoon, eating but no drinking, was resting with me but just started gaping, shaking head eyes closed, agitated

3) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
no

4) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
2 other babies died, first day 3, next day 5...only symptom lethargy

5) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
eating starter crumbles medicated, yogurt, will not drink

6) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
normal formed poo

7) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
just kept warm, some yogurt and a electrolytes in water but she would not take fluid

8 ) 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?
She is going to die, she is really bad all of a sudden but I need to know what this is...I only have 5 left!

9) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
10) Describe the housing/bedding in use
pine shavings in plastic rubbermaid brooder

 

[Shannon's Chix]

She's gone...about 15 minutes from the start of gaping until dead. 5 left...

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

Sorry you lost your chick.

I hope someone can help you out before you lose more of them.

 

[mypicklebird]

What are your temps? Where are they from (did you hatch them or buy them from a hatchery or local)? Has the brooder been used before with no problems? Were they on paper for the first few days before moving to shavings (ie do they know how to eat, and are not eating shavings)?

 

[tulie13]

Quote:
Good questions, I'll also add - is their water clean? Are they pooping in it?

Did you teach them how to drink when you first got them, by dipping their beaks in the water? If not, do that NOW, and find some vitamin/electrolyte of some sort to add to their water.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

Quote:
Thanks for the replies...my temps were around 95 for the first few days, now about 90 and they seem good with that, walking around, only snuggle up when sleeping. I got them from a hatchery they were shipped from Illinois, 8 of them with no heat pack. My brooder is a rubbermaid bin. I used paper towels on top of newspaper and changed 3x daily the first 3 days, then switched to shavings. I did dip all their beaks in the water when I first got them and used some kind of waterer that has a small opening so they could drink but would not drown or poop in it, took good care to make sure they were all eating and drinking the first day, no apparent problems. Now they have a regular small waterer because they have grown a good bit. I change the water 1-2x daily. They all grew as well and are feathering nicely, even the one that died yesterday.

Can babies that small have gapeworm? I'm just wondering because of the gaping she did before she died...but the others didn't do that so I don't know. So far today all seem energetic but I am very paranoid...waiting for something to happen...

 

[mypicklebird]

Your setup & temps sound fine. With chicks this young, any disease can take them down fast. Gasping/gaping may be respiratory disease, or just (sadly) a dying chick struggling. I would immediately call the hatchery. They may have a clue- if it is infectious, they may be getting reports back from other buyers, and may already be looking into the problem. Your plastic container may be releasing gasses in the heat of the lamp. Is this a new box? You might try switching to a cardboard box or wood for now.

 

[Shannon's Chix]

Quote:
Oh wow...I never thought of that! I thought a lot of people used rubber bins??? Makes sense though, I have them in the house so no breezes or anything and 100w bulb! Oh no...I'll switch them out asap!

 

[mypicklebird]

I use a rubber bin as a brooder too, but they are old- storing kids clothes and what-not. I have noticed when I get new ones (got some for recyclables recently) they smelled very chemically. Some plastics will outgas more than others, softer plastics are supposed to do it more. Higher temps will increase the process. I really don't know if this is/was the problem, it was just a thought. Birds because of their respiratory anatomy are more sensitive to inhaled irritants and toxic gasses.