3 1/2 wk. old lethargic chick/update & questions

[SpottedCrow]

When Penny was so sick a couple of weeks ago...can't believe it's that long...sigh...I used the handfeeding formula and fed her with a spoon on the table on a towel...it takes forever, but it will get some food into her...especially if you make it loose...that will get liquids into her too.

Good luck.

 

[Wynette]

I'll try that - thanks so much, SpottedCrow. Is your Penny alright now? Hope so!

 

[SpottedCrow]

You're welcome and thanks for thinking about Penny. Sadly, she was hawk breakfast...

 

[Wynette]

Oh, I'm so sorry, SpottedCrow - sounds like you tried really hard to get her through.

 

[HenHaven]

It sounds like you are going the right things for her. I would keep her off the shavings for now. That way she won't be eating them, and you can monitor her poop better. I would try to get the medication into her with whatever tempts her the most.

for her recovery! I would also continue to try the yogurt.

 

[Wynette]

Thanks so much Lynn for your adivce. The baby's not getting any better, even though I've been trying to feed her baby bird handfeeding formula. She'll slurp up a few mouthfuls, and then fall back to sleep. She's lost quite a bit of weight, and as far as I can see she's no longer eating. So, I think I need to make an awful decision tonight. This will be my first chicken loss, and I'm having a very hard time with it.

 

[Wynette]

Okay, so I began treating this chick with Sulment Monday evening. She's on the 1/2 dose now. She's gotten better, and even flew to the top of her waterer yesterday to greet me when I walked into her room.

The good things I'm seeing: she's eating, drinking, pooping what appears to be normal poop, a bit brighter and more active.

The bad: she's STILL sneezing, and still a bit lethargic (though nothing like she was 3 days ago).

I'm hoping someone can help me with the whole sneezing thing. She's been on pine shavings since she was a week old. Her environment is very clean (not dusty). If she's got some bacterial thing going on, wouldn't the Sulmet have cured it by now?

I'm beginning to wonder if she's got a piece of wood shavings stuck in her esophagus or something - is she too young (4 weeks old today) to try a balled up piece of bread with peanut butter on it? Is it possible she may have something lodged in her nasal cavity? Then again, she's doing much better...I'm just SO confused about this! Something stuck would not have caused the one mucousy/pink poo or the lethargy...does anyone have any ideas?

I'd like to be able to put her back in with the rest of the chicks her age next week, when she's off the Sulmet, but I sure don't want to jeopardize any of the others. Which brings me to my next question:

If she DID have Cocci or something else contagious, why weren't any of the other 20 chicks affected? They were in together for 3 days when she started sneezing (I thought it was due to the too-damp conditions in my basement - 4-5 other chicks had begun to sneeze, but one I started to run a dehumidifier and change the shavings every other day, all but this chick stopped. She was the first to start - for 3 days prior to the others). Is it possible that they ALL simply have stronger immune systems than this little girl? I'm just so confused about this, and I'm trying to understand what's going on with her. I'm frustrated, and trying to learn & understand what's going on. Thanks so much!

 

[SpottedCrow]

As long as she's alert and eating, I would think that she's well on her way...