3 Day Old Chick Lethargic

[Broodica]

Total newbie here. We got 5 chicks just this past Tuesday. Woke up to find the little one lethargic, standing droopy headed, eyes closed. She had some stringy white poop on her butt which I cleaned off with warm water. The is the smallest, but up until now, she has been very feisty and eating and drinking with the rest. Was fine last night.

It got a little warm last night, as we had closed the door to the bathroom where the brooder is, so we found them all at the other end away from the light, but we have adjusted the light and it is back to around 90 (they hated being at 95F) and the door is open. Won't make that mistake again. The other four are great. We have tried to give her sugar water (3 tbs in 1 quart) but she won't drink it voluntarily, and she struggles and screams when we try to get her beak into it. I am going to the pharmacy to get a dropper to try and get some water into her that way, but I am really nervous about forcing to much into her?

Any advice, help, ANYTHING would be so very much appreciated!

 

[dawnchick]

Drops of liquids must go along the side of the beak to prevent drowning them. They either take it or not. If she does start drinking, go easy on the sugar, and stop it after a day or two.

I have also found they don't like it as warm as the charts on here indicate. If they aren't piling on top of one another, I think, they are warm enough. Good for you for giving them enough room to get away from heat, or move toward it, as they choose.

Lethargy is what I always saw first when they were too hot, so this may clear on its own. And of course you may lose the chick from some problem that no one can fix.

Sounds like you are doing fine.

 

[Broodica]

Managed to get a few drops of Pedialyte into her mouth. I tiled her head back and teased her with some of it in a dropper and when she opened a bit, tried to drop it on the side of her beak.....I mixed a bit of Poly Visol into the Pedialyte as well. Just a tiny bit. I don't want her overdosed on electrolytes and vitamins! We tried her on some Gro Gel, but she refused that as well. How often should I try her with the water or Pedialyte? She's still just sitting there. No change of behaviour. Siiiiiiiiiiiiiigh.

 

[bargain]

Too much sugar in that water! It should be only about 1/2 teaspoon per quart. And really I wean my babies off that as fast as I can - first 24 hours..... Were these shipped or picked up? I suspect that your thermometer may be off? what is your brooder made of?

Is there any chance she got piled on or smashed by the others overnight - perhaps in getting away from the heat?

By any chance do you think she's been eating some of the shavings..... At 3 days old 95 if the thermometer is accurate and at the location of the chicks should be fine. What are you feeding them? Is it medicated feed.

Best of luck for you!

 

[chickenzoo]

I also treat any new chicks for coccidia with Corid.

 

[Broodica]

Well she's gone.

UGH!

She wouldn't drink the sugar water anyway, but I had looked it up and it said 3 tbsps/quart. Anyway, hopefully I won't need to use it EVER again.

I managed to get a bit of Pedialyte into her, but that didn't help either. Tried Gro-gel too. Forget it. She was the runt and maybe she did get piled on because it got too hot. Seems tho that they wouldn't pile if it's too hot as opposed to too cold?

They were shipped from My Pet Chicken. The other 4 are doing sooooo well, feisty and eating, drinking well. I already notice a difference in size. They are in a 105 qt. clear tote with a 250 infrared light and they are still on a soft mat with paper towels and and a towel. No shavings yet. They are on medicated Chick starter. I checked her for pasty butt, but she was pooping just fine, no sign of obstruction. I have also given them a bit of uncooked oatmeal flakes mixed into their feed.

She was awesome until this AM. Even at midnight, she was eating and drinking well. I don't know what happened, maybe the heat did her in, but I feel so awful......

 

[bargain]

Quote:
Honey I'm so sorry. You did every think just fine, I'm sure it was that she just was the little one. Don't worry about the sugar water - I asked my husband and he used 1 teaspoon in his quart, but that can vary. I just researched and many are suggesting giving more sugar. but I'm sure that would not make a difference, really. They piled on each other getting away from the heat if I understood you correctly.

Please don't feel badly. You are a great mother and you did really well with all of them. Take care of you and enjoy those babies! Nancy

 

[Broodica]

Thanks...I'm not sure if she got piled on. I wouldn't think they would pile if it was too hot? Besides the other end is far enough away that it's definitely cooler. Ahhhh well. We will probably never know. Poor little thing

Thanks again for the