2 week old baby chick is weak, but fighting to stay

[Emgeegeeem]

Hello,

We got 12 rainbow layers from Meyer on 12 May, and all had been thriving. Yesterday, I noticed our littlest girl (who is actually quite little still) is very lethargic. She can stand and walk, but prefers to lie down, and does cheep normally still. She’s not cuddling with her siblings anymore, but she’ll drink from the dropper I’ve been giving. I’ve given egg yolk and extra nutrients to her.

I honestly thought she wouldn’t make it through the night, but she’s still fighting. She gets animated and moves quite a lot when you interact with her for a bit, but goes back to a deeper malaise after you’ve put her down.

I’ve checked the temp in the brooder, and she has plenty of cooler space. Clean, fresh water & no siblings are going after her.

She was doing so well— albeit she was small— until yesterday. Today, I hear rales, could that be indicative of either the end for her or that the aforementioned symptoms are part of a respiratory distress?

Is it just failure to thrive? Can nothing be done?

Thanks for any advice

 

[swamphiker]

It sounds like you are doing everything you can. You can try mixing in chick electrolytes/vitamins with the water you give her, and also encourage her to eat more by wetting the chick feed.

Sometimes they just don't make it regardless of your best efforts. If all of the other chicks are doing well, it's likely just an issue with that one chick.

P.S. Welcome to BYC!

 

[Emgeegeeem]

It sounds like you are doing everything you can. You can try mixing in chick electrolytes/vitamins with the water you give her, and also encourage her to eat more by wetting the chick feed.

Sometimes they just don't make it regardless of your best efforts. If all of the other chicks are doing well, it's likely just an issue with that one chick.

P.S. Welcome to BYC!

Thank you for the welcome! Sadly, I have been mixing the electrolytes and feeding with a dropper, so I thought she would probably fall victim to nature. It’s always the one that’s your favourite, isn’t it? Sigh!

 

[swamphiker]

Thank you for the welcome! Sadly, I have been mixing the electrolytes and feeding with a dropper, so I thought she would probably fall victim to nature. It’s always the one that’s your favourite, isn’t it? Sigh!

Yes, it's such a tough part of chicken-keeping! I have a batch of week-old chicks with one that's been struggling as well. It's been several days, and she's still hanging on, though I don't expect it to make it for much longer. It's tough but at least she is warm and among other chicks who aren't beating up on her.

 

[Emgeegeeem]

Yes, it's such a tough part of chicken-keeping! I have a batch of week-old chicks with one that's been struggling as well. It's been several days, and she's still hanging on, though I don't expect it to make it for much longer. It's tough but at least she is warm and among other chicks who aren't beating up on her.

I’ve been torn between “Is it cruel to keep pushing her to stay, or is it cruel to let her go?”

I was shocked just now when I walked in to her quite awake and walking around normally! She drank a bit of electrolyte water and ate some yolk via dropper again, and is now asleep bundled on my chest. I can hear the slight crackle still.

Do you think a crackle is normal for failure to thrive chicks? I’m still wondering if I’m just missing respiratory disease or something. Oh the stress of babies!

 

[swamphiker]

I’ve been torn between “Is it cruel to keep pushing her to stay, or is it cruel to let her go?”

I was shocked just now when I walked in to her quite awake and walking around normally! She drank a bit of electrolyte water and ate some yolk via dropper again, and is now asleep bundled on my chest. I can hear the slight crackle still.

Do you think a crackle is normal for failure to thrive chicks? I’m still wondering if I’m just missing respiratory disease or something. Oh the stress of babies!

I'm glad she's perked up! I honestly don't know about the crackle, sorry. But that does sound respiratory.

 

[Emgeegeeem]

I'm glad she's perked up! I honestly don't know about the crackle, sorry. But that does sound respiratory.

Thanks for going through this with me, I felt like I was flying blind & the second I joined, you & this community embraced me. Thank you!

 

[swamphiker]

Thanks for going through this with me, I felt like I was flying blind & the second I joined, you & this community embraced me. Thank you!

Thanks for the kind words! That's what we're here for Let us know how your little chick (and the others) are doing!

 

[WoDia]

Crackling is from fluids in the lungs. Probably happened via dropper. If she can drink on her own, there’s no need for the dropper. Monitor the crackling, maintain warmth, vitamins in the water, and make sure she’s eating the chick crumbles. The crackling should improve. I hope your little chick feels better very soon.

 

[gimmie birdies]

You can dip the beak you don't have to use a dropper.