Hi everyone. I'm brand new here and brand new to chickens. We just got our first little flock of 10 about a week ago. For the first couple days, all seemed well. Nine of our chicks are growing and running around and generally being entertaining. However, one little golden buff is not thriving. Three days ago, we noticed that Sweetie (the beloved favorite of our 6 year old) was quite lethargic. Her wings were droopy, she wasn't moving much and her eyes were almost always closed. It seemed I hadn't seen her poop, so I researched constipation and cleaned her vent that night, hoping she'd be improved in the morning. No luck. Through this forum, I think I've determined that the coop was too hot, which was causing loose stool and a sealed vent. We've managed to regulate the temp in the brooder now. The next day, I realized she was the only chick I'd not seen drinking, so I researched some more and decided to force feed her some water. She was so weak that she didn't fight when I gave her water each hour throughout that day.
The next day, she was not so droopy, and she was moving a bit more. I kept force feeding her water, but she was a bit spunkier and fought more. Still not moving a ton, but she was seeking out snuggle buddies when they came to the warmest part of the brooder where she hangs out. Today, I realized that she would enthusiastically drink water droplets off my hand while I was holding her. She's moving around a bit more, and even pecking at other chicks once in a while. She does not lie down, ever. She's fallen over once or twice and seems to not be able to get back up. She is still very unsteady on her feet, and she makes lots of little weak chirps all of the time. They almost seem involuntary, like when she breaths in.
Two questions. She will still not drink from the waterer in the brooder. I've dipped her beak in it several times, but she is uninterested. What could be making her refuse to drink from the waterer? The water is refreshed several times a day, and I've put her near it while no one else is around to get in her way. Second, how does one force feed a chick? She's not really growing, and I'm not seeing her eat very much. Maybe this will come as she regains strength? Rather than attempt to force feed her, should I try to offer other foods instead? I saw a recommendation for feeding sick chicks warm yogurt for constipation or hard boiled egg.
Many thanks in advance for your thoughts on this very long post!
The next day, she was not so droopy, and she was moving a bit more. I kept force feeding her water, but she was a bit spunkier and fought more. Still not moving a ton, but she was seeking out snuggle buddies when they came to the warmest part of the brooder where she hangs out. Today, I realized that she would enthusiastically drink water droplets off my hand while I was holding her. She's moving around a bit more, and even pecking at other chicks once in a while. She does not lie down, ever. She's fallen over once or twice and seems to not be able to get back up. She is still very unsteady on her feet, and she makes lots of little weak chirps all of the time. They almost seem involuntary, like when she breaths in.
Two questions. She will still not drink from the waterer in the brooder. I've dipped her beak in it several times, but she is uninterested. What could be making her refuse to drink from the waterer? The water is refreshed several times a day, and I've put her near it while no one else is around to get in her way. Second, how does one force feed a chick? She's not really growing, and I'm not seeing her eat very much. Maybe this will come as she regains strength? Rather than attempt to force feed her, should I try to offer other foods instead? I saw a recommendation for feeding sick chicks warm yogurt for constipation or hard boiled egg.
Many thanks in advance for your thoughts on this very long post!
