Hi, wondered if any body could give me some advice on a sick keet. It was quite a rough hatching, they hatched 4 days late and very slowly. There are 8 and they were two weeks old on Sunday. I think there may have been a power cut around day 17 of incubation.
I noticed early last week that 5 out of 8 had pasty bums, so I cleaned once a day and applied vasaline. The vasaline really helped stop anything sticking or getting chaffed.
I also added cider apple vinegar to the water, poultry spice to the feed and ground porridge oats. after 2-3 days there was only 2 that where still having problems and a touch of diarrhea.
After doing some research I managed to get a bottle of Coxoid to add to the water and the diarrhea and pasty bums stopped. However one keet, the worsed affected seems really unwell. It is much smaller than the others, although it is getting adult feathers. It always seems to be standing hunched with its head lowered and its wings out and dropped at the back of the brooder. It seems to be breathing heavily and makes a feint gasping noise when breathing, it is not a rattle and there is no discharge. It also seems to be weak and a little unsteady on its feet.
I have taken it out of the brooder and put in a cage on its own so it does not get bumped by the others. It is eating the chick crumbs and I add finely copped greens twice a day. The greens and shredded carrot has been added since the chicks started eating.
I am still adding the Coxoid to the water.Taking it to the vet is my last resort as I worry that the stress of the travel will do it more harm.
any ideas anybody?
Thanks Chris