Sick chicks? large crop, diarrhea, sneezing

[Ilovechicken18790]

Hello everyone! I am new to backyard chickens/keeping chickens in general, 2 days ago we got 4 chicks from tractor supply 1 Rhode Island red, one Lavender Orpington, one Silver laced Wyandotte, and lastly a black jersey giant. For their brooder setup we are using a mesh puppy playpen, puppy pads for bedding, the Chick cozy heat brooder, Dumor chick feed, and we add the Purina electrolyte powder to their water. But I'm worried because they have diarrhea, 2 have enlarged crops, and 3 are sneezing, they almost jump when they sneeze and it's a soft "choo". The sneezing seems to be spreading as well. But they are eating and drinking, they are only 4 days old and barely have any feathers yet, we have found a vet that takes chicks/chickens, but we won't be seen for a while. Any recommendations or ideas on what might be wrong with them? Thanks!

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

I wouldn't keep the electrolyte powder in their water over one day. Too much of that can actually work in the reverse and cause diarrhea. Try put them on just bottled/fresh water and alternate days of putting the other product in their water.

As for the sneezing, are the puppy pads scented? They shouldn't be getting a "cold" this fast, so I think there's something in their area causing the sneezing. Perhaps switch those out with generic paper towels and see if they improve. They could be on pine shavings too, or we use horse bedding pellets.

The enlarged crops is usually just some are little piggies. They have nothing you've noted that could cause a crop impaction.

 

[sean_wonder]

Hey, welcome to BYC! Could you please post a picture of their stool? I agree with Debbie, too much electrolyte powder can overload their little systems. I've also read/experienced that medicated feeds can sometimes cause diarrhea as well.

Unless they have "runny noses", watery, sunken eyes, and a generally listless attitude about them, I would also agree that there might be something in their brooder that's causing sneezing. Is their brooder anywhere drafty?

Chick crops can get impressively big.

 

[Ilovechicken18790]

Hi, and welcome to BYC!

I wouldn't keep the electrolyte powder in their water over one day. Too much of that can actually work in the reverse and cause diarrhea. Try put them on just bottled/fresh water and alternate days of putting the other product in their water.

As for the sneezing, are the puppy pads scented? They shouldn't be getting a "cold" this fast, so I think there's something in their area causing the sneezing. Perhaps switch those out with generic paper towels and see if they improve. They could be on pine shavings too, or we use horse bedding pellets.

The enlarged crops is usually just some are little piggies. They have nothing you've noted that could cause a crop impaction.

Thank you! we have removed the electrolyte powder from their water and switched the puppy pads out, they aren't scented. We did recently redo our floors so that may have kicked up some dust and irritated them.

 

[Ilovechicken18790]

Hey, welcome to BYC! Could you please post a picture of their stool? I agree with Debbie, too much electrolyte powder can overload their little systems. I've also read/experienced that medicated feeds can sometimes cause diarrhea as well.

Unless they have "runny noses", watery, sunken eyes, and a generally listless attitude about them, I would also agree that there might be something in their brooder that's causing sneezing. Is their brooder anywhere drafty?

Chick crops can get impressively big.

I don't currently have a picture but will get one as soon as possible as they are currently sleeping. I replaced the water with just plain filtered water, we aren't using a medicated feed, so I don't think that is the problem. They don't have any mucus coming from their eyes or noses, nothing like that honestly. They aren't acting lethargic, if anything they are a little wild LOL. Not in a drafty area so I honestly think the problem might be the puppy pads and the electrolyte water. Their crops are empty in the morning, so I think they are just little piggies for food! Thank you so much for replying/answering my question!

 

[sean_wonder]

I don't currently have a picture but will get one as soon as possible as they are currently sleeping. I replaced the water with just plain filtered water, we aren't using a medicated feed, so I don't think that is the problem. They don't have any mucus coming from their eyes or noses, nothing like that honestly. They aren't acting lethargic, if anything they are a little wild LOL. Not in a drafty area so I honestly think the problem might be the puppy pads and the electrolyte water. Their crops are empty in the morning, so I think they are just little piggies for food! Thank you so much for replying/answering my question!

Of course! Let us know how things are in a couple days! Again, welcome and congratulations on your new babies!