- Apr 18, 2012
- 7
- 0
- 7
I recently bought two Polish chicks (a couple of days old) to add to my flock. One is perfectly fine and very active, but the other is not looking very good at all.
When I first got my chicks, both seemed healthy, except for one kep an eye closed most of the time. Over the last four days, its health has declined. It was initially unsteady on its feet, which I thought was normal for its age (it's pretty young). It was sleeping pretty often which worried me, but it was eating, drinking, and peeping normally. Yesterday, I noticed it was often on its hocks. I believe the chicks are about 1 1/2 weeks old.
Today I came home and the one chick was limping badly, it didn't want to put any weight on the leg. It would get up to eat or drink, but when it drank, it would become unbalanced and tip over. Then, it would hop a few steps and plop down, tired (eyes closed, laying down). It is still eating, and drinking with help (either me holding it up or putting water drops on the tip of its beak). I also noticed a very small clicking sound while listening to its breathing, which I'm pretty sure is the beginning of a respiratory infection.
How old does a chick have to be before I can give it Duramycin (this is the only antibiotic we have available at this time)? And what about antibiotic ointment for the eye? When is the chick old enough to have antibiotic ointment put on the eye? I have noticed the closed eyelid is pinker than the other eye.
The chicks have been fed medicated chick starter food (it's the only chick feed the stores seem to have around here) and given well water. They have a heat lamp which they can move under or away from in my bedroom. The bedding is hay.
Thank you.
When I first got my chicks, both seemed healthy, except for one kep an eye closed most of the time. Over the last four days, its health has declined. It was initially unsteady on its feet, which I thought was normal for its age (it's pretty young). It was sleeping pretty often which worried me, but it was eating, drinking, and peeping normally. Yesterday, I noticed it was often on its hocks. I believe the chicks are about 1 1/2 weeks old.
Today I came home and the one chick was limping badly, it didn't want to put any weight on the leg. It would get up to eat or drink, but when it drank, it would become unbalanced and tip over. Then, it would hop a few steps and plop down, tired (eyes closed, laying down). It is still eating, and drinking with help (either me holding it up or putting water drops on the tip of its beak). I also noticed a very small clicking sound while listening to its breathing, which I'm pretty sure is the beginning of a respiratory infection.
How old does a chick have to be before I can give it Duramycin (this is the only antibiotic we have available at this time)? And what about antibiotic ointment for the eye? When is the chick old enough to have antibiotic ointment put on the eye? I have noticed the closed eyelid is pinker than the other eye.
The chicks have been fed medicated chick starter food (it's the only chick feed the stores seem to have around here) and given well water. They have a heat lamp which they can move under or away from in my bedroom. The bedding is hay.
Thank you.
