3 week old pullet - hunched over, swallowing, clear diarrhea

[daisy_jane]

Hi all,

I have a 3 week old Speckled Sussex pullet. She was fine until Sunday. That afternoon I noticed her droppings were very liquidy with greenish-grey looking feces in them. She hasn't had a normal dropping since then.

She's drinking, but I don't think she's eating. She walks around (but not as much as normal, or as much as her companion). Her head is hunched down and I don't see her lifting it up and craning to look out of the box like she did before. And today I noticed that she's tilting her head back as though to drink and making swallowing motions (but without having taken a drink).

My first thought was an impacted crop -- they chicks are in a brooder box, but on pine shavings, so I guess she could have swallowed one. I don't feel anything unusual in her throat or chest, but chicks are so bony at this age that I'm not sure whether that's a good indicator.

Her last droppings tonight (about 15 minutes ago) had no mass to them. Just liquid. Oh, and I'm feeding medicated chick feed, so I can't imagine it's something that requires antibiotics. . .?

Any suggestions?

Lynda

 

[NotTheMomma]

Have you noticed if the crop is empty or full? That would help you know if she's eating or not. You can try mixing a small amount of feed with milk and see if she'll eat it. If she's not eating, of course she can't poop anything but liquid. Unfortunately as small as they are, they can dehydrate quickly.

While seeing if anyone has any idea what is going on, I'd mix a bit of feed with the milk and see if you can get her eating.

Has she been on the ground at all? With any other chicks? Even on the ground where older chicks have been? It's possible she's gotten coccidiosis, but I'm really not sure. Have you seen any bloody poop?

First and foremost I'd keep her warm, and make sure she's eating and drinking. Then hope someone else has ideas of what could be going on.

HUGGLES!

 

[daisy_jane]

Thanks for posting a reply. I can't tell with the crop. I'm new to this whole thing, so I'm not sure whether I'm feeling her bones or her crop. ^.^

I did just mix yogurt, milk and mashed feed together. She ate some -- but only because I gently pushed her beak into it. I heard a gurgling sound when she swallowed the first bite, but nothing after that. I put her back in the brooder after about 10 minutes and as I did, she tilted her head backwards as though to swallow water and made swallowing motions.

There are two chicks in this brooder box. They're both the same age, but the other one (a SL Wyandotte) is much smaller. The Sussex was raised by me at home, and the SLW was raised by the guy at the hatchery. The SLW was introduced to the brooder cage last Thursday, so I guess it's possible she brought something with her. But she's fine.

I'll try the sugar water and see if I can keep her hydrated. Thanks again.

Lynda

 

[NotTheMomma]

Do you have any gatorade? If so, try diluting it half and half with water, and see if she'll drink that. Sometimes the sugar water will give them diarrhea. At three weeks, I wanna doubt cocci, but obviously her belly is hurting if she's hunched over. Sometimes the milk and yogurt will help coat the belly and make them feel better.

As for the crop, if you look on the right side of the chest, right under their neck, you should see an area that looks like a golf ball. Usually it's kinda smoochy feeling when full. If you aren't seeing a raised area offside on the chest, then probably not eating enough. Check the other chick and see if you can see the crop so you know what you're looking for.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Oh, and at only 3 weeks, I doubt it's an impacted crop, UNLESS she's had treats without grit in her diet. They need the grit to grind up the food since they don't have teeth.

 

[daisy_jane]

She hasn't had treats, just the starter feed. I'm pretty sure my book said to hold off on grit until later. Am I remembering that wrong?

 

[NotTheMomma]

You are correct! No grit is needed until they are eating things other than the starter feed. Like treats, grass, etc. Until then, the starter food turns to liquid when they eat it, so they are able to digest it.

 

[sammi]

what bedding are you using?
sometimes they eat the bedding and clogs up the crop.
by throwing the head back..that's what it sounds like.

the crop will feel like a little sac..
feel for any lump or grainy feeling.
try giving a teeny piece of bread soaked in veg oil..then massage the crop..

also try looking inside the mouth and throat and see if anything is in there. a little flashlight might help.