4 week old chick has something wrong. Please help!

[FrahmChicks217]

I checked on my chicks this morning (10 of them including the one that is not ok are 4 weeks old) he was fine and acting normal when I went to give fresh feed and water. Less then 2 hours later I heard a weird noise, went to check on them and he wasn't coming to the door of the brooder like normal. And wouldn't come up to my hand either. I did notice some blood, just a very small amount on a few pieces of shavings. I checkdd him over for wounds and i cant find any spots with blood, which would be easy to see as he is a cream color. He had thick saliva, shaking head, very lethargic. I have him isolated now, but he will randomly stand up, lack of coordination almost, shake his head, mouth gape and then lays back down and closes his eyes. I've checked along his throat for any obstructions, even looked in his throat as best as I could with a small flashlight. Didn't feel or see anything. He seem to be breathing just fine though. Im wondering if he smacked his head on the top of the brooder, or ate something that irritated his throat? Crop is empty at the moment and I can't get him to drink any electrolytes I'm offering via syringe to the corner of his mouth. All other chicks are behaving normally. Eating and drinking just fine. I do know for a fact he ate and drank this morning. Any one have any thoughts? Im worried I'm going to lose him, and honestly, he is a favorite and he is extremely friendly and docile. Im just guessing that its a boy at this point too. As he is an EE and to small and young to tell yet.

 

[FunClucks]

Any blue or green areas beneath his skin? This can indicate bruising. He could have taken a fall, or gotten beat up, but if there's no blood, a fall or injury is more likely than an attack from other chickens, IMO. Could he have gotten stuck somewhere or eaten something he shouldn't have? Any potential for poison or small nails in his area? Could a small child have squeezed him too hard? Could be internal injuries for that. Just random guesses here.

 

[Eggcessive]

Could the blood have come from a dropping? Coccidiosis is always the first thing to consider when a chick that age is lethargic or not acting right. Corid is the treatment, and won’t hurt even if he doesn’t have coccidiosis. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder in each gallon of water for 5-7 days. Are there any older chicks with them?

 

[FrahmChicks217]

Any blue or green areas beneath his skin? This can indicate bruising. He could have taken a fall, or gotten beat up, but if there's no blood, a fall or injury is more likely than an attack from other chickens, IMO. Could he have gotten stuck somewhere or eaten something he shouldn't have? Any potential for poison or small nails in his area? Could a small child have squeezed him too hard? Could be internal injuries for that. Just random guesses here.

No small children in my house. I do have a son, but he is 13 and was at school at the time(he gets on the bus at 6:45am and this happened right before 11. Not seeing any bruising or discoloration. He perked back up after a while, I let him go back in with the others, no one is picking on him as I sat there for about an hour. He went and ate and drank water. No nails in their brooder pr poison. He is back to acting like something is stuck in his throat and is making a loud chirp noise (but not the alert chirp chicks make) but isnt acting lethargic now. Its almost like his throat hurts. So I'm thinking its irritated from maybe eating a bigger piece of shaving? Everyone else is acting completely normal. And I found the chick that had bled, it was one of the marans crosses, looks like its foot was bleeding from feathers coming in. So I cleaned that one up and made sure no one else can mess with its painful pin feathers on its feet. And I know there is no chance for coccidiosis or other issues as they have been inside on dry shavings since they hatched and no ability to be near my adult chickens. He did poop while I had him separated, and it was nice and solid, well, as solid as chicken poop can be. I guess the correct wording is formed. No watery poops. And his crop was empty before I let him eat. I feel a little better seeing that he perked up, but I know we aren't in the clear yet. I changed their water for electrolytes water just to make sure in case he isn't going to eat as much as he should, He can at least stay hydrated and get vitamins and minerals. Im still going in and checking on him about every 10 minutes.

 

[FrahmChicks217]

Could the blood have come from a dropping? Coccidiosis is always the first thing to consider when a chick that age is lethargic or not acting right. Corid is the treatment, and won’t hurt even if he doesn’t have coccidiosis. Dosage is 2 tsp of the liquid or 1.5 tsp of the powder in each gallon of water for 5-7 days. Are there any older chicks with them?

The blood ended up being from a marams chick who has pin feathers coming in on its feet and was bleeding from it.

 

[Eggcessive]

Yes, a plucked pin feather will bleed a lot. Chicks can still get coccidiosis though, even if they have never been on soil or around older chickens.

 

[FunClucks]

No small children in my house. I do have a son, but he is 13 and was at school at the time(he gets on the bus at 6:45am and this happened right before 11. Not seeing any bruising or discoloration. He perked back up after a while, I let him go back in with the others, no one is picking on him as I sat there for about an hour. He went and ate and drank water. No nails in their brooder pr poison. He is back to acting like something is stuck in his throat and is making a loud chirp noise (but not the alert chirp chicks make) but isnt acting lethargic now. Its almost like his throat hurts. So I'm thinking its irritated from maybe eating a bigger piece of shaving? Everyone else is acting completely normal. And I found the chick that had bled, it was one of the marans crosses, looks like its foot was bleeding from feathers coming in. So I cleaned that one up and made sure no one else can mess with its painful pin feathers on its feet. And I know there is no chance for coccidiosis or other issues as they have been inside on dry shavings since they hatched and no ability to be near my adult chickens. He did poop while I had him separated, and it was nice and solid, well, as solid as chicken poop can be. I guess the correct wording is formed. No watery poops. And his crop was empty before I let him eat. I feel a little better seeing that he perked up, but I know we aren't in the clear yet. I changed their water for electrolytes water just to make sure in case he isn't going to eat as much as he should, He can at least stay hydrated and get vitamins and minerals. Im still going in and checking on him about every 10 minutes.

Do you have chick grit available for them? If you suspect a larger than usual shaving, that will help him grind it up and pass it. I always have either chick or adult grit available (depending on age) regardless of whether any is available in the environment - I can be assured the stuff I provide is correct, and they must have it to properly digest their food. Any extra they get from the environment is a bonus.

So glad to hear he appears to mostly be recovered!

I'm glad none of my inquiries turned anything up. It's hard to tell sometimes with chickens.

If any more concerning behavior pops up, let us know.

Eggcessive may have more advice for you. That's all I can think of.

Good luck!

 

[BlindLemonChicken]

I second the Corid. It can’t hurt.