Sick chicks! I need some advice fast...

[MontyJ]

I' sure that it is balanced Bay. What I am worried about is that the Duramycin can rob calcium from their bodies. The CX have enough problems with bone strength as they get heavier. I just thought boosting the calcium might help stave off a problem before it starts. My luck with these chickens hasn't been so great. I keep expecting to go to the coop and find a bunch of CX hobbling around on little crutches

 

[vfem]

I would, if anything, go another round of antibiotics. They may need a double dose. This is why when I find one raspy bird in the bunch, I treat them ALL! They got the gunk!

I know this stuff is a headache... but here's what I can say....

I will not by TSC chicks anymore. Everytime I got CX or ANYTHING from there I had problems. I have SEVERAL friends who bought from them and came to me and it was ALL the same complaint. Respritory! I just treated 2 friend's birds with the same issues, both from TSC. They get their birds from Mount Healthy Hatchery. You may want to look up and see how wide spread of a problem it is for others?

What I've heard is that Welp Hatchery is Iowa has some awesome CX!

 

[bobm]

TSC, feed stores as well as pet shops are the WOST places tp purchase any type of animal... too many hands spread many deseases from their own animals.

 

[MontyJ]

I went with my gut instinct here and removed the antibiotic. If it's a mistake, it's one I will have to live with and learn from. I simply cannot justify administering antibiotics to birds that show no improvement after several doses, and are otherwise healthy, eating, drinking, and gaining weight. I and my family are going to be eating these birds. They are just going to have to get over their stuffy noses on their own. Only time will tell if I made the right call.

Again, I want to emphasize that I do not believe that what ever they have came from TSC. I highly doubt the incubation period would be three weeks for a nasal infection. I may be wrong, but I would be very surprised.

I really appreciate all of the advice I have been given here. This has been a very trying learning experience for me. For now, I'm going to let it play out as it does.

 

[baymule]

Monty, I eat raw garlic when I get a cold and it scares those bad ol' germs off! (my breath would knock a buzzard out of the sky too) Plus, I have read posts where people chop raw garlic real fine and their chicks eat it and they get over their sniffles. It might be worth a shot. After all, it's not antibiotics that you are putting into an animal that you and your family will eat.

 

[MontyJ]

Not a bad idea Bay. Besides, I wouldn't object to a little garlic in my chicken I happen to have a few cloves in the spice rack that are starting to sprout.

 

[897tgigvib]

Hay while you're at it, may as well feed them Rosemary too...

 

[Chickie'sMomaInNH]

giving them garlic is good. one of my hens used to raid my garlic bed early in the spring each year, nibble down the scapes and then take her dust bath in the remaining bulbs trying to kick them all out of the ground in the process. it also helps keep them parasite free. pumpkin seeds are also supposed to help with the de-worming when they are old enough for that.

just avoid giving them onions. those can be toxic/sickening to most animals.

 

[vfem]

I'm just going to say this because it needs to be said, "Chickens do not get colds" its an infection of 1 type or another.

PurpleChicken on BYC had a very lengthy post about what happened with a congested chicken he let in his flock because he thought it would pass. It was a very sad story. I may not know everything there is to know about chickens, but I do know infection spreads and chickens rarely get anything they just get 'better' from

 

[MontyJ]

I understand and I believe you vfem, I really, really do. I also really appreciate all of the help you have given. You know your chickens, there is no doubt about it. In this instance, however, I have to weigh several things.

First, the rate of spread of infection. At this point it is extremely slow. As of today, there are still only 2-4 with the snuffels. That may very well change since I combined the younger CX with the older. The laters show no symptoms at all.

Second, I have to consider the processing time. Many of these chicks will not be around much longer. The older chicks already weigh 4 pounds+ In another 2 weeks, they may be ready to process. The younger chicks (that contain the ill chicks) weigh an average of 2.25 pounds. All are eating, drinking and gaining weight. There is still no sign of nasal discharge or swelling around the head.

Third, I have to consider the withdrawl period for antibiotics in meat chickens. If I continue to administer antibiotics, I run the risk of loosing birds to heart problems or leg problems before the withdrawl period ends. That itself nullifies the use of antibiotics if I loose the birds to those problems.

Fourth, and I hate to say it, but the cost to meat ratio would go down the toilet if I treated the CX with antibiotics for the rest of their short lives. I know that sounds horrible. Believe me, I do. But, facts are facts. They are not dying from whatever they have, nor are they suffering any more than I am with my own lingering head cold. (Is it possible they got it from me?) They are eating, drinking, pooping normaly.

I will say this, if even one of my laying chicks show even the slightest symptoms, they will go straight to the vet for a professional diagnosis. They will be around for many years and I can't afford to take a chance with their health. I know that's an oxymoron, considering they are housed with ill chicks, but at this point in time, they are showing no sign of illness. I don't want to take a chance on degrading their autoimmune system by giving an antibiotic for something I can't confirm. Does that make sense? What I'm trying to say is that I don't want to give anitbiotics to my layers when the CX may have a viral infection, which antibiotics won't cure anyway.

Just try to understand where I am at here. I do appreciate your help, and hope you will continue to give advice when I need it. But in this particular situation, I have to go with my gut.