1 week old chick lethargic; won't eat or drink.

[pims]

Just 3 days ago my family and I purchased 4 chicks. The smallest one; which I believe is a little under 1 week old has taken a turn for the worse. The other 3 chicks are doing well; eating and being generally active. She was fine these last 2 days ; and is just now showing these symptoms:
Lethargic; She won't/can't move on her own, at all. Where ever I set her, she just topples over miserably. She usually keeps her eyes closed and seems to always be sleeping. She acts as tho she is cold. When she does try to move; she is severely disoriented, and falls down within the first step.

If I touch her; or if she finally wakes up, she hangs her head, or poofs up and chirps loudly and continuously.
I noticed that the first day she didn't eat much. These past 2 days she hasn't eaten nor had anything to drink. She doesn't poop, either. None of the other chicks has shown any symptoms; they seem to be perfectly healthy.

I checked her body, her legs and everything. She doesn't seem to show any signs of being attacked or getting injured in any way.
I haven't seen her feces at all, I don't think she has ever really gone since we had her.

I don't think I can fully heal her, but I'd like to at least treat her until I can save up enough allowance to get her to a vet.

While at our house; due to their age and the weather, they are only in the coop when I get home and take them out to roam. Right now they're staying inside. I got a cage that is big enough to have food/water a bed and room for them to move and pick scattered food.

My guess was she got ill from not being warm enough. The other chicks are about 1-2 weeks and have no problem being warm. I've considered asking my mom if I could prop the heat lamp for them.

 

[Pyxis]

The other chicks are about 1-2 weeks and have no problem being warm. I've considered asking my mom if I could prop the heat lamp for them.

I guess this would be my first concern, since I'm not sure what you mean here. Do they not have a heat lamp? A chick under a week old needs a heat lamp or other heat source. If you have a heat lamp, it needs to be 95 degrees underneath it to keep them warm. They need to have access to this at all times.

If you do have a heat lamp and it is the correct temperature, another possibility is coccidiosis. It wouldn't hurt to pick up a bag of Corid and dose them and see if she improves.

Also try offering her some scrambled egg to eat and give her some Poultry Nutri Drench. I'd give her a drop or two orally and also add it to the water and hopefully that will help her while we get the problem figured out.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Pyxis is right, chicks need to be kept warm until they're feathered; heat lamp or a heating pad (MHP thread); whether they are in the house or in the coop. You're having to ask you Mom to use a heat lamp, if you don't mind my asking your age? Does your Mom know you have the chicks?

 

[pims]

yep! my parents were with me when we purchased the chicks. I've mentioned to my mom that being in the house wasn't enough to keep them warm; especially since they were the newest and youngest chicks on sale. Right now I told my dad, and he set up a temporary heat lamp. ( Tomorrow I will set up their actual heat lamp). This one is working well for now, the chicks seem to have quieted down and hang out in the corners closest to it.

I see the concern and should've explained better. This is our second time raising chicks, we've got the needed supplies. My mother was under the belief that room temperature was enough to sustain the chicks until they were big enough to move out into the actual coop.

--
little update;

I helped the ill chick drink water. I left her in a warm spot next to the lamp. She isn't fully recovered, but she is doing a lot better. She has opened her eyes, and stood by herself ( tho still wobbly). She is even holding her own head up. Its been about an hour.

If she continues this progress; is there any sort of food I should give her? Anything for water?

 

[Pyxis]

You should edit your age out, minors aren't allowed to say their age here, it's against the rules. I know you were asked, I just don't want you to get in trouble

Good that she's doing better and you got a heat lamp set up! Yes, room temperature was definitely not enough and I'm glad you got that fixed. As I mentioned in my other post you can offer her some scrambled eggs and some Poultry Nutri Drench, and also add the Nutri Drench to the water to help with her recovery.

 

[crb1487]

First they need heat but, lethargy now is probably dehydration. She needs fluids, but this is something best done by a steady adult hand.
There are a couple great people on here who are great at talking you through things like this.
Water is the very most important thing to start with and heat.

If you can get a drop or 2 at a time just inside her beak and get her to lift her head and get it down, then maybe some high protein Greek yogurt. If you can get her strong enough to want to try, scrambled eggs and yogurts are good proteins to get her strength back.

If she's as far gone as I'm thinking, it's up to you to keep insisting. By now, she's just wanting to sleep til the end.

Warm her and hydrate her. Then get protein nutrients into her. Even if 2 or 3 drops every 30min...

Good luck

 

[axg17]

Hi, not sure if you will see this as this thread is now from 4 years ago. I have a week old chick in this same situation- she has perked up a little from being under the heat lamp and is growing (though not as much as our other chick). She can stand on her own and walk a few steps, however she is still quite lethargic and drifts off as if she is going to sleep often. My main concern is that she is not eating, though she does drink water when we give it to her.
Did you manage to help your chick? And if so, what did you do?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Hi, not sure if you will see this as this thread is now from 4 years ago. I have a week old chick in this same situation- she has perked up a little from being under the heat lamp and is growing (though not as much as our other chick). She can stand on her own and walk a few steps, however she is still quite lethargic and drifts off as if she is going to sleep often. My main concern is that she is not eating, though she does drink water when we give it to her.
Did you manage to help your chick? And if so, what did you do?

I would post anew on your situation.
How old is the chick?
There are two things I always recommend - a probiotic and a nutrition boost.
That would be Nutri-Drench and Gro2Max.

 

[axg17]

Thank you- I will create a new post and I will try the probiotics and nutrition boost. They are not going to be delivered until at least 3 more days-is there anything you can recommend in the mean time?
She is 1 week old today. She also has Spraddled Legs which we have put a bandage on her to treat, which could be why she’s so lethargic, but my main concern is that she is not eating.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For temporary probiotics you can try plain yogurt or kefir.
For some vitamin mineral boost try Poly-vi-sol without iron.
The Nutri-Drench also contains essential amino acids and reaches the bloodstream within minutes.
The Gro2Max is formulated specifically for chickens.
The leg issue could be a separate issue but could also be related to a vitamin/mineral/amino acid deficiency.