KaraColburn
In the Brooder
- Jun 29, 2022
- 20
- 60
- 38
I have a flock of 30 broiler chicks that I got at one day old. They are now a week and a day old and I lost two chicks for unknown reasons, (from what I understand is not uncommon, but still makes me sad). It has been pretty hot here their first week, in the mid to upper 80's, but I have been able to keep the coop between 90 and 95 degrees. The first two chicks died around day 3 and 4. I have been keeping a very close eye on all of them to see if any of the other birds seem ill.
There is one chick that just seems not mentally all there. All of the other chicks are thriving, running around, eating drinking and usually scurry away quickly when I go near them or try to pick them up. The chick in question, just sits there, and lets me pick him up. Every time I set him back down he doesn't really stand straight up or try to walk away, he kind of just rests there half standing and half sitting. I don't think lethargic is the right word to describe him because when I pick him up he usually tries to flap and will chirp like the other ones do. He lets me flip him over to look at the bottoms of his feet which look good. He is clean and no poop stuck to or covering his butt. I thought for sure he was going to be the third to pass away but he keeps hanging in there and his status doesn't really seem to change much. I was worried that he wouldn't figure out, or be able to walk to the food or water so I put him near the water a few times a day and also put food right in front of him, slightly away from the others so he doesn't get trampled. When I put him near the water and food he doesn't really seem too interested. I tried sticking his beak in the water a few times and he will drink a tiny bit. When I leave him out there for a bit and come back to check on him he is sometimes in the same spot and other times pretty far from where I left him, so it seems that he gets around when I'm not looking. Its hard to know if he eats the food I leave in front of him or the others eat it, but If he wasn't eating or drinking I would assume he would have already passed away. The only other thing I've noticed that is slightly different than the others is that they are all starting to get tiny little feathers on their wings, and he is too but his are much shorter and smaller, and his eyes just have a different look. I cant describe it other than he just doesn't look as bright as the others.
My question is, is there anything I can do to try to help him? It breaks my heart that the rest of the chicks are thriving around him and he just sits there and seems like he's in another world. I also wonder if he might have an illness that can spread to the rest of them? I don't want him to suffer, but I honestly cant tell If he is content and oblivious or something is wrong.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
There is one chick that just seems not mentally all there. All of the other chicks are thriving, running around, eating drinking and usually scurry away quickly when I go near them or try to pick them up. The chick in question, just sits there, and lets me pick him up. Every time I set him back down he doesn't really stand straight up or try to walk away, he kind of just rests there half standing and half sitting. I don't think lethargic is the right word to describe him because when I pick him up he usually tries to flap and will chirp like the other ones do. He lets me flip him over to look at the bottoms of his feet which look good. He is clean and no poop stuck to or covering his butt. I thought for sure he was going to be the third to pass away but he keeps hanging in there and his status doesn't really seem to change much. I was worried that he wouldn't figure out, or be able to walk to the food or water so I put him near the water a few times a day and also put food right in front of him, slightly away from the others so he doesn't get trampled. When I put him near the water and food he doesn't really seem too interested. I tried sticking his beak in the water a few times and he will drink a tiny bit. When I leave him out there for a bit and come back to check on him he is sometimes in the same spot and other times pretty far from where I left him, so it seems that he gets around when I'm not looking. Its hard to know if he eats the food I leave in front of him or the others eat it, but If he wasn't eating or drinking I would assume he would have already passed away. The only other thing I've noticed that is slightly different than the others is that they are all starting to get tiny little feathers on their wings, and he is too but his are much shorter and smaller, and his eyes just have a different look. I cant describe it other than he just doesn't look as bright as the others.
My question is, is there anything I can do to try to help him? It breaks my heart that the rest of the chicks are thriving around him and he just sits there and seems like he's in another world. I also wonder if he might have an illness that can spread to the rest of them? I don't want him to suffer, but I honestly cant tell If he is content and oblivious or something is wrong.
Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Also, I don't know if the picture does it justice, but look at the size difference between his legs and the one behind him on the log. He is so tiny. It becomes more apparent every day. He started doing this thing where he stands on one leg and falls asleep. But 5 mimutes before that he walked perfectly fine across the whole coop. I just really can't tell whether or not he is not feeling well and if he should be euthanized. Ugh
