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Post by Greathouse on Mar 7, 2013 3:52:08 GMT -6
It seems two of my chicks have come down with something. I noticed it earlier today, it almost sounded like a whistle or a short high pitched hoot of sorts, and then finally, later this evening I caught one of them sneezing, followed by another whistle. These two chicks came from TSC, and I've had them since February 11th. (A friend wanted some but not 6, so I took 2, and they took 4.) So they're coming up on a month old, and I've not had any issue with them prior to this. Earlier in the week, I brought home 3 new chicks, so I moved the 2 oldest chicks to a separate brooder, so they weren't running all over the tiny ones. So I'm wondering if the sudden sneezing is due to stress of being moved? I've checked both periodically tonight when they sneezed, and their noses and mouths are clean. They're still pretty active and they're both eating and drinking. I even spiked their water with some apple cider vinegar and a little bit of sugar. And just to eliminate other possible culprits, I've switched their bedding to paper towels, so I know it's not a dust issue from pine shavings. I'm planning on running by TSC tomorrow to get the a couple of the electrolyte packets. So all that rambling to ask, is there anything else I can/should do for them, that I'm not already? Many thanks in advance.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Mar 7, 2013 18:30:18 GMT -6
My guess they are probably fine. If they don't have any drainage from their nose, their eyes are clear and are eating and drinking and acting normal I wouldn't worry unless they start looking lethargic. Is the chick food medicated? If it is don't give any antibiotics till you switch to non medicated chick starter. And you don't want to give them too much stuff. They're just little guys and won't tolerate too much stuff being ingested. Chicks have alot of dander which is probably why they are sneezing.
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Post by Timbo on Mar 7, 2013 20:26:49 GMT -6
Yep
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Post by Greathouse on Mar 8, 2013 10:41:45 GMT -6
Thanks for the replies guys! Everyone still seems fine. They do sleep a lot it seems, but when they are active, they are active. So nothing really out of the ordinary there.
The only thing that kinda worries me is that now, the smaller chicks are also sneezing, when they weren't before. But they too are eating and drinking... so, I dunno. Maybe it is just dander from their new feathers coming in. (Or maybe they just like making me a hot mess worrying about them. Haha.)
Just to be safe, though I picked up some SavAChic for later, and right just as a preventative for a week I'm putting anti-biotic in their water, as was suggested by my chicken friend Tony. And they are not on medicated starter, just plain on chick feed from The Feed Store in Trenton.
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Post by chowdownsilkiefarm on Mar 8, 2013 20:20:51 GMT -6
The paper towels in their brooder will not keep down their dander. In fact when they scurry about and flap their wings they will make it fly more into the air which will make them sneeze. Just think of being in a small room with alot of dust and a fan on blowing it around. Chickens of any size create alot of dust (dander). As long as the chicks aren't on medicated feed the antibiotics won't hurt but do give them some probiotics afterwards. The antibiotics will kill the good bacteria they need in their gut and the progiotics will replace that. You can give them yogurt if they will eat it if you don't have the probiotic on hand. I've been told to give just pain yogurt but mine don't like it plain. I give blueberry yogurt..Give them a little grit too.
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