Very sick baby chickens! need help fast!

[MotherJean]

How many chickens do you have? Have you added any new chickens to the flock recently, other than the ones you hatched?

 

[BeccaB00]

MotherJean - Nope

I have not got any new chickens

 

[mamaluv321]

They will be fine on scrambled eggs for a few days until you get a new bag of feed, it's more of a preventative than actually medicating them, and they more than like have a bit built up in their systems. Get them off that funky smelling stuff ASAP!

 

[BeccaB00]

Really? Just scramble some eggs in a frying pan? could I add some regular oatmeal to? thanks so much I will definatly do that

 

[BeccaB00]

we have got one sick one in a seperate pen right now . . .

 

[BarkerChickens]

The sick one...what are the symptoms? The same the others (fluffed up, convulsions?) How is the poo? How does the crop feel (hard, bean bag-like or like a water balloon)? How the breathing? Any drainage from the eyes, nose or mouth? Any bubbles in the eyes? Any swelling anywhere? While he/she eat and/or drink? What color is the comb?

...trying to think of any questions that may help save your sick one. I still think its a bioaccumulating toxin of some sort.

As for scrambled egg...absolutely!!! It is great! (Just don't give them raw egg as they will learn to like it and later may become egg eaters). Hard boiled works too. Oatmeal, yogurt, etc is good too!

 

[BeccaB00]

BarkerChickens - The sick one feels like he hasnt eaten in a like 2 weeks. He is sooooo Light weight. He stays sorta fluffed up, his wings

droop down, he gets droppings all in his feathers when he goes (I think he may have diareah) His crop also feels like he hasnt eaten in

a long time. I feel ABSOLUTELY NOTHING in his crop. theres not even a buldge AFTER they eat a plate of boiled egg. he doesnt walk

slow or anything. but one of his toes also looks broken

(I know thats not really a symptom) thats about all the syptoms the sick

one has got. Breathing is fine. No drainage from the eyes, nose, or mouth. no bubbles in the eyes or anything. I don't see any swelling.

his comb has barely started growing in but it looks black in color

He drinks/eats. I got new starter today. I got a smaller bag. I thank

all of you for taking the time to help me out. Keep the answers/ideas coming..

 

[BeccaB00]

 

[ekemily]

I'm getting to this thread a little late, but here's my guess: Aspergillosis.
I think this for many reasons.... your feed smelled "off" and you use hay as a litter. The hay is probably your main culprit. I do not know where you live, but if it is anything like where I live here in the south, it is very humid and hay molds quickly. The spores on the fungus can get everywhere on the ground and even airborne. I would stop using hay, and, instead use something like sand to build up the coop to improve drainage.

Aspergillosis
Synonyms: brooder pneumonia, mycotic pneumonia, fungal pneumonia, Aspergillus . When the source of the disease is the hatchery, the disease is called brooder pneumonia. In older birds, the disease is called aspergillosis.

Species affected: All birds (domestic poultry, pigeons, canary and zoo bird species), animals, humans, and plants are susceptible.

Clinical signs: Aspergillosis occurs as an acute disease of young birds and a chronic disease in mature birds. Young birds have trouble breathing and gasp for air. Characteristically, there are no rales or respiratory sounds associated with aspergillosis. Feed consumption decreases. Occasionally there is paralysis or convulsions caused by the fungal toxin. Mortality in young birds averages 5-20 percent, but may be as high as 50 percent. Mature birds also have respiratory distress, reduced feed consumption, and may have a bluish and dark color of the skin (cyanosis). Nervous disorders, such as twisted necks, may occur in a few birds (see Table 1 ). Mortality in mature birds is usually less than 5 percent.

Transmission: Aspergillosis is caused by a fungus. The fungus grows well at room temperature and higher. All litter and nest materials (peat moss, peanut hulls, sawdust, peat, bark, straw) have been known to have been contaminated with aspergillus. Feed and water should be suspect when attempting to identify the source of contamination.

Treatment : There is no cure for infected birds. The spread can be controlled by improving ventilation, eliminating the source of the infection, and adding a fungistat (mycostatin, mold curb, sodium or calcium propionate, or gentian violet) to the feed and/or copper sulfate or acidified copper in the drinking water for 3 days. The litter can be sprayed lightly with an oil-base germicide to control dust and air movement of fungal spores.

Prevention: It is important to thoroughly clean and disinfect the brooding area between broods. Use only clean litter, preferably soft wood shavings. Do not use sawdust, litter high in bark content, or shavings that have been wet.

I could be totally wrong, but I hope this helps!

 

[BeccaB00]

Oh my goodness, does it really sound like Aspergillosis? I have parrots, are they in danger? ... chicks are not gasping for air, They are all eating fine, & drinking fine. They are ALWAYS hungry and drink normal. If the chicks have got it, do all my chickens have it? their pens are all side by side, so do we need to get rid of the chicks? It is very hot and humid where I am...