Sick chicks! I need some advice fast...

[bj taylor]

monty, really sorry you're having trouble. i'm having chicken trouble, but the babies are fine right now.
I don't think opening the door is an issue. I leave the door to the shed open all the time. if there's a wind I will close the door to keep cold wind out. they need to be out of "drafts", but when they're with mama they run out from under her & play around. when they get cold they go back under her. just make sure they have a warm place and room to get away from the heat if it's too much for them.

you might try braggs vinegar (with the mother) putting a few drops in their water. it's good for them & will control any growth in the water.
you might clean out the litter in case it's wet underneath or harboring a problem. make sure you're using large flake pine shavings, not fine, and don't use cedar at all.

keep an eye out for pasty butt. if they're struggling w/an illness they may develop this. if it's viral you just support them w/the right feed/water/ventilation/heat & hope they survive. if something like pasty butt comes along it's just a matter of dealing w/poop stuck on their backside that prevents further pooping. it has to be removed w/warm water. a pain in your butt.

they've all been exposed at this point, so there's no point in isolating one or two unless they get too sick.

sure hope things clear up for you fast & the fun part starts quick.

rootin for you & the fuzzy butts

 

[MontyJ]

Morning update:

The two ill chicks are still with us. They are eating and drinking very well. Their breathing hasn't changed which is a good thing for the one that was just starting to show symptoms. It hasn't got any worse. Fortunately, no one else is showing symptoms at this time.

Bj, Thanks. I'm already using Bragg ACV at 1/2 Tbsp/gal. The bedding is changed regularly and was changed Saturday. It will get changed again today. We have been watching the butts from day one. I am going to put the isolated chicks back in the brooder after work today. I think the time away is good for them since they have unfettered access to food and water without having to deal with the madhouse.

On a side note, I think I have discovered something else. Last week one of the younger CX died (it never started growing, I suspect heart problems). DW went to TSC for an extra feeder and saw someone getting chicks. She was just watching and happened to mention to the customer that one of our chicks had died, as sometimes happens, no big deal. Well, the manager (who was getting the chicks) told her he would give her another one. So, he scoops one up and puts it in a box for her. Of course, it's a week younger than the others, so I wasn't concerned about it being smaller. But lately I am beginning to wonder what kind of chick it is. It isn't growing like a meat chick and is just now getting feathers on it's wing tips. I asked the wife which bin Clem was in when he gave her that chick and she said "I don't know." I have a sneaking suspicion that he was in the white leghorn bin. She said she didn't remember stipulating that it was a CX that had died. I think Clem thought she meant the same chick as what he was getting for the customer. We call it little chick. It's a tough little buggar and fights it's way into the feeders even if it has to sit on top of somebodys head to get something to eat. If it wants under the light some more, it will peck the others in the butt until they move over. I'm going to keep an eye on it. If it doesn't start growing by leaps and bounds in the next few days, I'm going to move it into the layer brooder. I am beginning to think that there is no way this is a CX.

Do you think the other layers will give it a hard time?

ETA: I just had a thought. I just drew a picture of the chick bin layout at TSC. I asked DW what bin he was in when he gave her that chick. She immediately pointed to the center bin. Yup, just as I suspected. The CX are in the bin on the end. The leghorns are in the center bin.

 

[canesisters]

How are the babies today?

Mentioned that you "have a choice of either being able to keep the chicks warm or ventilate the coop". I'd go for ventilating the coop. As long as they have a non-windy, warm place that they can eaisly reach - and they are healthy enough to be mobile - they will regulate their own heat. Assuming, of course, that they aren't exposed to REALLY COLD temps... and even then they will likely do ok if their warm place is sort of enclosed - like a box on it's side with the open side towards the heat and the closed side towards the door.
It's more important to have the movement of air to keep it fresh in there.

I hope the sick ones will pull through. There is a HUGE learning curve to overcome within the first few weeks with the first flock. I lost one after an extended struggle (she simply failed to thrive and grow) but after the sadness, I tried to see how much I learned while careing for her. Best of luck to you and the itty-bitties.

 

[897tgigvib]

I think it's kind of cool you got a white leghorn.

It's FOGHORN LEGHORN'S cousin!

 

[catjac1975]

It sounds like the temperament of the little guy will keep him fine. If I remember correctly that sounds like a Leghorn temperament. Glad their doing better.

 

[catjac1975]

I have saved chicks just to have them die later on.

 

[MontyJ]

I just got home from work and checked on the chicks. All are still alive. DW moved the ill chicks back with the others. I listened and couldn't hear the congested one as easily. Maybe it's getting better. DW also moved "Little chick" to the layer brooder. So far so good. The others are curious, but not hurting it. I saw something kind of cute when I was out there. Little chick was sitting in Gingers spot and Ginger was kind of hovering over it, almost protective I would say. Surely they are too young for that kind of behavior. But that's what it looked like to me. In any event, she didn't run Little Chick off like she does the others. If it turns out to be a hen, I guess I won't have any trouble figuring out who laid that egg

 

[bj taylor]

i'm questioning my chick breeds. the 'delaware' are growing faster than the rest & feathering faster than the rest. they all looked same size/age a week & half ago. now they look different ages. the 'wyandottes' are the runts. but like your white leghorn monty, these guys just shove into the spot they want. they peck at the bigger ones & generally act like they have a napoleon complex

today's been a kind of experiment. my hoop house includes the coop. the hoop house has dutch doors at both ends. I've got the brooder in the hoop house, the lone chicken roosts on top of the brooder, the rest of the chickens take up the other end. today it's rainy & cold. I like to open the hoop house & let the chickens inside out of the weather (for reasons I don't understand they will stay outside in the miserable rather than actually go back inside the coop - they have decided the coop is strictly for eggs & sleeping). they will go inside the hoop house general area in nasty weather. WELL, both doors are open at each end (the north is only partially opened). the brooder lights are all on to hold the temp where the babies need it. everyone seems happy except the lone chicken (i'm not sure she's destined to be happy ).

I have been wrestling with these different chicken scenarios for days now. I can only imagine when I get the goats. that's going to be something for the books .

 

[baymule]

Monty I am glad your babies are better. I hope the fiesty little leghorn turns out to be a hen, they lay like crazy. Sounds like you are on track with the chickies.

BJ, I have 2 SLW that are our original hens, they are 4 1/2 years old. Just got 7 more SLW chicks and they are at that scraggly feathery stage. They went from cute to ugly in a hurry! Dotties have attitude and lots of it! They lay well and make good hens for your flock. I hope you get the chicken dynamics worked out to their and your satisfaction.

 

[MontyJ]

We're not out of the woods yet. I was just out there and heard the bubbly breathing again. I am beginning to think it is an upper respiratory thing. It seems that after the chick sneezes, the bubbling sound stops for awhile. Still keeping our fingers crossed.

Here's Little Chick. I guess that's going to be it's name from now on. There is no way that could be a 10 day old CX.