Please Help, 2 Chicks Ill

[untamed_spirit]

Hi guys, I'm new to this forum, I have successfully raised several batches of chicks before, with only the odd casualty. The latest batch consist of 6 chicks, and 2 chicks seem to be gasping and occassionally there is the odd rattle, also they are sometimes sneezing and shaking violently. It was only 1 that seemed to have it at first, but the other has it now, so I am worried it is an infectious thing. The other 4 are perfectly healthy, except 1 which had a lucky escape from a rat and now has 1 useable leg, but that one is fine. They are being raised indoors in a box with a infra red heating lamp, fresh food water supplied every couple of hours.

Please, if anyone can help I would be very grateful. I hate losing chicks, especially when they appear to be dying a slow and painful death, the web is very informative but unfortunately not specific enough for my symptoms.

Oh, and 1 more thing that has confused me totally is the fact they are both still eating and drinking, and I have checked their crops and there doesnt appear to be a blockage?!

Thanks

[millipede]

Welcome to the site...

I really can't say for sure what is wrong... What are they on for bedding? What are they eating for food?
It sounds like a respiratory problem but exactly what or what caused it I sure couldn't guess. You might try some cyclone cider
http://www.seramas.com/cider.html
It's supposed to help respiratory problems.

[untamed_spirit]

Thanks, I was thinking respiratory, the action kind of reminds me of cheyne stoking in mammals, I have tried a generalised antibiotic for the last few days, unfortunately we lost the smaller of the 2, but I think he was the runt anyway, as he never developed well like the others, the other one sometimes looks better, but other times worse.. I will finish course of abs, then maybe try some of the stuff you suggested if no improvement occurs.

Thanks for replying!

[millipede]

Sorry you lost one. Some chicks are just born so weak they have little chance of surviving. It gets really tough waiting to see if they'll make it just to see them die. Sometimes it's genetics, sometimes it's something that happened during incubation, sometimes diet... hard to say sometimes.

Let us know how things turn out with the rest.

[rein08]

What can we do to chicks born weak?
What do you suggest.
Im having problems here.
Thanks.

[millipede]

What can we do to chicks born weak?
What do you suggest.

I don't know if anyone has any expert advice on it but I've had a hard time figuring that out myself. The only suggestions I can make are to baby them. Make sure they have the proper temperatures... make sure they have water there at ALL times and it's clean all the time. I believe some people would also treat them with vitamins and electrolytes... and maybe even medicine if they suspect something.
I know there's lots of books on poultry, and on poultry ailments. I wonder if there's any that specialize in sick chicks....