Buff Orpington choking/gasping/ trying to swallow?

Mar 20, 2014 17:42:46

Yesterday when I got home from work, I noticed one of my week old baby Buffs gasping for air. I took her outside to see if some fresh air might help. Mostly, she looked as though she had eaten a wood chip, and was trying to swallow it down. She managed to make a few noises, but the sounds were not normal peeps. I read a few instances of this online, and by that advice gave her a few drops of oil in a syringe down the throat. She went between phases of normalcy and gasping for the next few hours. I thought she would for sure die in the night. Today, she is still alive, still looking like she is trying to swallow down that woodchip, or whatever she is doing. She is eating relatively normal, and has pooped normal (no blood). Today I shot some water in her throat with the syringe because I have not seen her drink any water.

Has anyone experienced this? Do baby chicks eat their wood chips and have trouble swallowing it? Is there any cure? Should I separate her from the other chicks?

Any advice is welcome!

Mar 20, 2014 18:08:56

Maybe try to provide her with some sharp grit for her crop to push things along better.

Mar 20, 2014 18:16:25

Hm, I will do that, I was afraid that the grit might further clog her up, but if you think it will help I'll add some to her food. Thank you!

Mar 21, 2014 09:08:59

I have some similar aged chicks. A lot of them are doing similar. Opening their mouths wide. I wouldn't describe it as 'gasping for air' though. My description was more 'trying to burp'.

I think that their digestion is just beginning, so some extra gas is too be expected.

Mar 21, 2014 11:11:42

No my chick was not as energetic as the others, something more than gas was wrong. Unfortunately she passed during the night.

Mar 21, 2014 13:21:08

The only time I've see that with our chickens is when one came down with Gape worm - she was an adult bird though. I am so sorry you lost your little one.

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