1 week old, suddenly not moving

[pipsqueekPDX]

My lil runt, Pip, is not moving this morning. She's about a week old. I tried to get her to drink some water and she wouldn't. Usually she's a little skittish, but this morning she won't move at all when I go to pick her up. She's been totally healthy til now. I'm worried and not sure what to do...her poops have been normal and she's been eating and drinking, so I have no idea. Should I be as worried as I am, or just wait it out? any idea of what might be wrong?

 

[mikecnorthwest]

I'm not sure there is anything you can do other than make sure she is warm enough and has access to food and water. I'm assuming there's no issue with pasty butt. How is she now?

 

[top of the hill]

oh, I feel for you, I have week old chicks myself. are they eating anything other than chick starter, if so, maybe add a little apple cidar vinegar to the water to help move things along...
sorry I can't be more help. good luck!

 

[pipsqueekPDX]

i went by the really helpful feed store where i bought the lil gals and they gave me some antibiotics for their water, said to put em on it for 3 days, then take em off and see if they get better, if not, put em on it for another 3. I've been putting apple cider vinegar and some vitamins in their water since i got them...so now the water has ACV, vitamins, AND some meds. Pip, the sick one, hasn't been drinking the medicated water, so i gave her some with a dropper...still not moving though. How often do you think i should give her water through the dropper? I don't want to over hydrate her...Thanks for all the help everyone

 

[pipsqueekPDX]

and no, just chick starter. But I let them roam around outside yesterday for a bit because it was sunny for the first time in a while here in Portland, OR...maybe she ate something funky out in the grass?

 

[heatherkh]

I'd maybe quit with the ACV and vitamins in the water while you're treating them with anti-bs - only because I'm not sure if either of them would interfere with the effectiveness?? Which feed store are you going to (I'm in pdx, too)

 

[jbs]

Good luck, it sounds like you're doing everything you can. I lost one of my week old chicks, read some posts on BYC about failure to thrive, but it was heartbreaking. I'm hoping that yours pulls through.

 

[heatherkh]

We lost a week old chick from what I would say was a combo of pasty butt and failure to thrive. It was our runt, and just a precious little thing. I hope the best for your little Pip.

 

[pipsqueekPDX]

thanks for all the help. I've been going to the Urban Farm Store over on Belmont...really great folks over there. Well, as an update, she seems to be getting worse...she has stargazer head now, which is making her fall over. From what ive read, its genetic, but she never did that til today, and really not until late in the day when she'd been sick for hours. So, Im just trying to keep her comfy at this point, not much more I can do i don't think. If you all have any desperation suggestions, i'd gladly take them. I'd love for the little one to pull through

 

[heatherkh]

Try searching "stargazing chick" on BYC. Could be vitamin deficiency (tho I know you said you were giving them vitamins in the water)?? I found this:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=1989116

I'm hoping for the best for your little chickie.