AUSTRALIAN POULTRY FORUM™

So i started with 3 isa brown chicks at 4 weeks old. then one died at 6 weeks old it was smaller than the rest and it rained for a week straight and while the other 2 were not bothered the little one wasnt happy and didnt do well with the bad weather.



so got 4 more chooks today ALL chooks (including the original 2 survivors) are nearly 7 weeks. New chicks were from the exact same place and same hatch from the original 3 i got. but just now i drove them home (1 1/2 hour drive) and then i let them out of the box in to a temp pen. and they all go straight for a big drink of water. after they finished one of the new chicks was spewing water out of it's beak. it was literally just drooling the water back out again. it's wings were a little droopy but it wandered around with the rest and well, i left them alone so they wouldn't stress out while they explore their new environment.

Is there something wrong with my new chick ? or is that a sign of stress from being in a box for a long time. I'm starting to think she is selling me sick chickens or i am a crap chicken owner and my chicks would rather die than live. ok so i am being dramatic.

But i don't want anymore chicks to die.

what can i do to help this little chick feel better or if it is a stress thing, what can i do to calm it and keep it happy and adjust easily ???

p.s. the new chicks can hear and see the other 2 chicks and they all want to get to each other. it will be like a family reunion for them.

Firstly don't think that you are a "crap chicken owner"

As for sick chicks from the breeder, yes, no, maybe? Is the breeder reputable in your area? Raising them from young can be rather challenging as they are prone to pick up all sorts of things, get sick and possibly die. I know it happens to the wrong people and you end up thinking "Why ME???!!!"

Is it hot and humid up in Newcastle today? What type of box did they travel in? Was there adequate ventilation? Possibly just a heat and stress thing. I used to give our new caged birds an avian sulphur solution to help settle them in, don't know if this is applicable to chicks.

Keep an eye on her and good luck.

ok so i have given it time ....i just went and fed the chicks and the one that was not looking well now has one eye permanently closed and the other dripping tears. the chick is always scratching the open water eye and gives a screach of pain each time it scratches.... whats wrong with my chicky ???????.... i felt the crop and it was all full and squishy.... and i looked at the vent and it was clear of any buildup or mess. i also looked at the closed eye and opened it up and the chick screeched and shut it again. i feel so sorry for the chick. the eyes and around the eyes are not red. they look normal except for the extra tears in the open eye and the other eye lookes like it is just sleeping permanently.

any ideas what it might be ???

Soooooooo, this is just my opinion, as I have just raised some day olds I bought from a breeder, and they are now 13weeks old. I had some with chronic respiratory disease and the only symptom some showed was closed weepy eyes that were sore when your try to open them. If this is it and you don't treat them with antibiotics then they will get a crackly sound when they breathe and then they can die. I washed out the eyes with a saline solution (either make it yourself, or if you are scared you are making it too strong, you can buy it from a chemist or vet...it is just salt water) and give them antibiotics. I used Oxymav B and that seemed to work well. If all the chicks are in together, or near one another, my vet said to treat them all with the antibiotics as they can get it as well, as it is spread through body fluids and their breath.
I totally understand how you feel when they get sick, as I felt the same way. I lost 7 out of 21 and thought I was really crap, but I learn't what to look for, and how to see the signs of the disease as it is starting, so that I minimise loses. Sometimes their poop will also look like mustard colour and runnyish, and that is also another sign they have the disease.
I hope this helps a little, and I hope that I am wrong. But it does sound like what some of my chicks had.
good luck
kellie

where can you buy antibiotics for chickens ???

I'm just sad that i am getting sick chickens... i emailed the lady i got them from and she doesn't seam to care and will replace the chicken if it dies. But i don't want any more chickens from her. i'd rather the chickens i have be healthy and the sick one to get better.

thanks for the advice. i might try and get a pic of the chick tomorrow maybe pictures will help with the diagnosis. Hope it is still alive and ok in the morning.

I bought my antibiotics from the vet, but after a while of feeding 21 chicks antibiotics, i then bought in bulk from vet-n-pet direct. This is a website, and they sell most chook medicine needs eg worming and antibiotics. a 100g pack will cost around $20 and a 1kg pack from the website will cost around $60. You mix it with their drinking water, and that is the only liquid they have access to. The instructions are on the packets.
good luck

ok, thanks for that. I shall give my vet a call and see what they can do. But i am pretty sure they DON'T know much about poultry or specialise in avian veterinary. So maybe on the ring around today to find someone helpful.

Hi BigLittleFish,

I have just bought Oxymav B (100g for $14.90) online from Planet Poultry. I have a new chickie who has a bit of a sneeze, and Oxymav B was recommended. I also bought several other products including wormer, parasite treatment and water cleanser. Col from Planet Poultry emailed me shortly after I placed the order to say my order had already been packaged and would be sent that day. I received my package three days later, which was pretty good as they are in Queensland and I'm in Melbourne. Here is the link to their website:

http://planetpoultry.com.au/

Good luck and hope your chickie gets better soon!