1 dead chick ....advice

[Freedfarmgirl]

We received our cornish x chicks yesterday morning from hatchery. We ordered 25 and got 26. Well, last night I noticed one of them seemed to be tired and just kinda stood there with it's eyes closed. I watched it for a bit. I decided to take it out and give it some water froma dropper, since it wasn't drinking or eating. I would give it a drop and it would look as though it was drinking, but them seemed to gasp. At some point I noticed to the right of it's breast bone was a bubble and when I would rub it, the chick would gasp and I could feel some sort of bubble in the bump. Then saliva type liquid would come out of it's beak and it would gasp. I put a small box in the brooder to separate it from the rest and put Sulmet in it's water(though I don't think it ever independently drank, I fed it water with a dropper). It finally, through the night, grew weaker and weaker and it died this morning. I also noticed it pooed one time and it was watery. My question is, should I do anything for the others. They seem to be fine, but I am concerned because it seems that once I noticed it was sick, there's not much to help. The temps are good in the brooder. They are spread out fine. I am frequently changing the paper towels and cleaning water of poo. They are on medicated feed.

Also, since it was an extra, should I tell the hatchery about it?

Thanks!

 

[horsejody]

I think it's pretty common to lose a few due to the stress of shipping. I would just watch the others for now. If everybody looks good, I wouldn't worry.

 

[Freedfarmgirl]

Thank you for your reply. I do feel better this afternoon. They are all doing great. I did see in one post a case of sour crop. It sounded alot like what happened to the chick.....don't know.

 

[swtangel321]

Sometimes chicks just dont thrive and its not meant to be, sure the shipping didnt help either !! The last batch of chicks I got I lost one the same way. Its normal you have no need to worry about the others unless they look sick, as long as they are all acting happy and fine everything should be ok !! Good luck !!

Also you have to be very carful when giving a baby chick water, they can drown very easy !!

 

[Cetawin]

It sounds like the little one just did not thrive...it happens. I lost one of Salmon Faverolle babies at only 4 days old...she just could not make it.

enjoy the babies.