Hello all! I am grateful to say that I seem to have won my particular battle and wanted to share my experience with the community. I have decided to join in on this forum because of how greatly it has guided me in my time and I figured I might do my part and share my latest scare. On that note I suppose this is my introductory statement which I placed in thiscategory for those experiencing similar ttroubles.
Five days ago from today, Friday, April 4, I purchased 6 americauna and two black sex link day old chicks. All precious poofs, seemingly healthy upon purchase and unloading into my home crafted hutch. Yesterday morning, Thursday, I go to check on the new babes and I suppose my opening the door to their separate room I spook the poor children! One of the americaunas had flipped onto it's back and started gaspes for air, upsidedown, motionless I pick the poor supposed little lady and adjust her upright in my palm and this awful gasping motion preceeds; like back and forth motion while gasped, looking almost like that of a cat ready to hurl. So naturally I semi-panic, call the feed store where I purchased them and they suggest it a respiratory issue. I assumed almost that my scaring the chick sent it into a state of shock and she was doomed but I followed the produce the nice lady told me to follow which was purchasing duramycin-10 (tetracycline hydrochloride soluble solution). For those that are not familiar it is an antibiotic used for respiratory disease and synovitis (which is inflammation but glorious "google" has all of those answers). Whether or not this was the case I figures it could not hurt so I had my husband pick me up a package and mixed in .4 grams or 400 mg into a gallon of water and replaced the water in the hutch immediately.
The chick remained unresponsive so I took her and administered water to her with a small syringe, mind you I am not one to force feed anything so I simply let a drop fall down her small beak until she showed interest which she really did not but I preceeded with intent a few times til her gasping subsided. I set her back into the hutch with the other chicks. Throughout the day she seemed to improve, still appearing to struggle for breath but walking around the barest amount and drinking, eating with caution, getting pushed over by the other chicks. So the other chicks begin to beat up on her understandably finding her to be weak. Chickens are predatory critters and survival of the fittest well, we all know it well. Upon recognizing this I separated her immediately into a large cardboard box. Keeping both crates heated with separate lamps to temperature.
The day preceeded and I began to lose hope, watching her struggle and in pain started t take it's toll. As a 37 week along pregnant lady experiencing the potential mourning of the loss of a critter was painful. But I was determined. For one to keep her hydrated so every hour throughout the night I set my alarm and watered her by hand, approaching this still by letting it drip through the underneath tip and side of her small beak. I also soaked her grit in water and usedanother syringe (this pharmacy had given me these teeny syringea for free, a handful - how generous!). Same approach, no forcing she was either going to eat or not in my eyes. She made it through the night!
Upon research I found scrambling eggs coukd encourage her to wat morw but she showed no interest so I took another egg and separated the yolk and with the raw yolk, small bit of chick grit and a splash of warm water it is like I had created her cure! She now has more energy and is eatinf and drinking on her own little by littlw and more and more! Such a reliwf, I still have her separated as the past two days have proven stressful and she a till seems weaker smaller than the others.
This is my story, hope, love and nuture have proven so much. Who would have thought. I am still continuing the treatment in water and I welcome any thoughts on what you all may think may have been the start of all of this? My startling her? I hope this provides some kind of informative to one of you who was lost like I was. The raw egg has really been a w I nder, she has been drinking the yolk, grit and water concoction straight from my palm! Has so much energy you can see her photo in my palm as my default photograph. She now begs to stay by my side.
I would like to ask if anyone has any suggestions on how to reintroduce her back with the others? I thank you all for my opportunity to share this story. Keep your toes crossed thing remain on this path for myself and my little poof. Wishing you all and all your children the best. <3
Five days ago from today, Friday, April 4, I purchased 6 americauna and two black sex link day old chicks. All precious poofs, seemingly healthy upon purchase and unloading into my home crafted hutch. Yesterday morning, Thursday, I go to check on the new babes and I suppose my opening the door to their separate room I spook the poor children! One of the americaunas had flipped onto it's back and started gaspes for air, upsidedown, motionless I pick the poor supposed little lady and adjust her upright in my palm and this awful gasping motion preceeds; like back and forth motion while gasped, looking almost like that of a cat ready to hurl. So naturally I semi-panic, call the feed store where I purchased them and they suggest it a respiratory issue. I assumed almost that my scaring the chick sent it into a state of shock and she was doomed but I followed the produce the nice lady told me to follow which was purchasing duramycin-10 (tetracycline hydrochloride soluble solution). For those that are not familiar it is an antibiotic used for respiratory disease and synovitis (which is inflammation but glorious "google" has all of those answers). Whether or not this was the case I figures it could not hurt so I had my husband pick me up a package and mixed in .4 grams or 400 mg into a gallon of water and replaced the water in the hutch immediately.
The chick remained unresponsive so I took her and administered water to her with a small syringe, mind you I am not one to force feed anything so I simply let a drop fall down her small beak until she showed interest which she really did not but I preceeded with intent a few times til her gasping subsided. I set her back into the hutch with the other chicks. Throughout the day she seemed to improve, still appearing to struggle for breath but walking around the barest amount and drinking, eating with caution, getting pushed over by the other chicks. So the other chicks begin to beat up on her understandably finding her to be weak. Chickens are predatory critters and survival of the fittest well, we all know it well. Upon recognizing this I separated her immediately into a large cardboard box. Keeping both crates heated with separate lamps to temperature.
The day preceeded and I began to lose hope, watching her struggle and in pain started t take it's toll. As a 37 week along pregnant lady experiencing the potential mourning of the loss of a critter was painful. But I was determined. For one to keep her hydrated so every hour throughout the night I set my alarm and watered her by hand, approaching this still by letting it drip through the underneath tip and side of her small beak. I also soaked her grit in water and usedanother syringe (this pharmacy had given me these teeny syringea for free, a handful - how generous!). Same approach, no forcing she was either going to eat or not in my eyes. She made it through the night!
Upon research I found scrambling eggs coukd encourage her to wat morw but she showed no interest so I took another egg and separated the yolk and with the raw yolk, small bit of chick grit and a splash of warm water it is like I had created her cure! She now has more energy and is eatinf and drinking on her own little by littlw and more and more! Such a reliwf, I still have her separated as the past two days have proven stressful and she a till seems weaker smaller than the others.
This is my story, hope, love and nuture have proven so much. Who would have thought. I am still continuing the treatment in water and I welcome any thoughts on what you all may think may have been the start of all of this? My startling her? I hope this provides some kind of informative to one of you who was lost like I was. The raw egg has really been a w I nder, she has been drinking the yolk, grit and water concoction straight from my palm! Has so much energy you can see her photo in my palm as my default photograph. She now begs to stay by my side.
I would like to ask if anyone has any suggestions on how to reintroduce her back with the others? I thank you all for my opportunity to share this story. Keep your toes crossed thing remain on this path for myself and my little poof. Wishing you all and all your children the best. <3
