I'm brand new to chickens. Have been reading and learning for the past several months and just got my first 5 baby chicks this morning. One was clearly not doing well and has been worsening over the course of the day. 4 little chicks are hopping around - eating TONS of food, chirping, pooping like crazy. And one just lies down with her head on the ground - kind of face-planted into the ground. She originally could stand up for a little bit if I disturb her, even take a few steps. But she has never taken more than one or two steps on her own and now, she just immediately falls on her butt if I disturb her. If I pick her up and put her back down, she will hold her head up for a minute or so and then lies down again in the exact spot I put her. I'm keeping her spot right at 95 degrees, since she won't move on her own.
Her legs seem fine (not spread apart) and they mostly stay underneath her. They don't appear to be any more splayed than the other chicks. She can hold herself up and I think she can straighten them if wants to, but she has not stood up straight (without resting on her butt) in hours.
She is in a separate container from the other chicks, since they were pecking at her a little.
She has not had any water on her own. I've been dipping her beak into sugar water a few times every 30 minutes, and I *think* she's getting a little each time, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. She has not had any food. She won't eat chick starter or crumbled egg yolk or mealworms or anything I've tried to feed her.
I cleared a blockage from her vent first thing when I got her this morning and a whole lot of poop came out then. Her vent looks just as clear as the other chicks' when I check now, but she has not pooped again since then. (I think the other chicks have pooped at least 8-10 times each since then.)
The folks at the hatchery said that the yolk she had should sustain her until Thursday morning and they gave me a few tips. I'm checking her vent and dipping her beak in the sugar water every 30 minutes and trying to feed her every hour or so. She's lying next to a thermometer in a spot that's 95 degrees. She's clearly declining by the hour. It's heartbreaking. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Her legs seem fine (not spread apart) and they mostly stay underneath her. They don't appear to be any more splayed than the other chicks. She can hold herself up and I think she can straighten them if wants to, but she has not stood up straight (without resting on her butt) in hours.
She is in a separate container from the other chicks, since they were pecking at her a little.
She has not had any water on her own. I've been dipping her beak into sugar water a few times every 30 minutes, and I *think* she's getting a little each time, but it doesn't seem to be making a difference. She has not had any food. She won't eat chick starter or crumbled egg yolk or mealworms or anything I've tried to feed her.
I cleared a blockage from her vent first thing when I got her this morning and a whole lot of poop came out then. Her vent looks just as clear as the other chicks' when I check now, but she has not pooped again since then. (I think the other chicks have pooped at least 8-10 times each since then.)
The folks at the hatchery said that the yolk she had should sustain her until Thursday morning and they gave me a few tips. I'm checking her vent and dipping her beak in the sugar water every 30 minutes and trying to feed her every hour or so. She's lying next to a thermometer in a spot that's 95 degrees. She's clearly declining by the hour. It's heartbreaking. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
