Would you keep chicks that have a crackle sound?

[Theck1722]

I have 7 week old chicks that when you hold them close to your ear you can hear crackles. Been hearing it on and off for weeks. Nobody has shown any signs of not feeling well. All eating, drinking, and active.
My thing is the rest of my flock that is a year old and never been sick. We love them. I thought I was safe buying from NPIP tested flock but I’m not sure now.. would you keep the chicks?

 

[nuthatched]

What is there brooder like?
Diet? Beding? temperature?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

And ventilation?

IMHO, for health, unfettered supply of oxygen is even more important for poultry than food, water or heat.

 

[Theck1722]

And ventilation?

We have them in our large outbuilding that is insulated but not heated. They have a heat lamp. Kept in a large metal water tub. Their bedding is large pine shavings. 2 of the chicks have hardly grown or gotten feathers so I have it warmer than their age but have a good size area where they can get out of the heat lamp totally. Directly under the lamp is about 75 degrees. The two chicks that are so tiny have me worried they have failure to thrive because of a respiratory thing they were hatched already having.
I feed them purina chick starter.

 

[Theck1722]

And ventilation?

IMHO, for health, unfettered supply of oxygen is even more important for poultry than food, water or heat.

And ventilation?

IMHO, for health, unfettered supply of oxygen is even more important for poultry than food, water or heat.

We’ve raised 2 different batches of chicks in here. I honestly hadn’t thought about actual ventilation.
There is two windows on either side that you can feel the air coming through and the building itself has a vent at the top but it’s not directly in that room. It never feels stuffy. But maybe that’s still not enough?

 

[Slothinc]

Do all the chicks have the crackling sound or just the two that are slower to develop?

 

[User690263]

Would it be possible to get a recording of the crackling sound? You can take a video, upload it to YouTube, then post a link to the video here

 

[Theck1722]

Do all the chicks have the crackling sound or just the two that are slower to develop?

I’ve gotten obsessed with listening to them.. Ive heard it in them all but the large ones it’s more periodic. The tiny ones it is just about every single time I listen. Especially when they are cheeping and exhales.

 

[Theck1722]

Would it be possible to get a recording of the crackling sound? You can take a video, upload it to YouTube, then post a link to the video here

I honestly wish I could! I don’t think it’s loud enough for cell phone audio to even pick up. It’s when I hold my ear to them. Only reason I ever noticed in the first place was because I had one next to my face cuddling and heard it.

 

[User690263]

I'd say keep monitoring it, and if it gets worse (trouble breathing, louder crackling, other symptoms) let us know