5 day chick panting and "calling for help"?

[becstalls]

I have a 5 day old chick that has been "calling for help" for the past hour in about 10 second bursts. It is not the normal soft cheeping, but a loud call. She is panting and gaping as well. The brooder is about 90 degrees. None of the other chicks seem to be having a problem. I'm new to this so I have zero idea what the problem could be. I do have experience mist-netting wild songbirds for research, so I know the panting and gaping are bad signs. The call sounds like a distress call to me. What should I do?

Thanks!!

 

[HeatherLynn]

Have you separated it? Might do that first so you can tell if its eating and drinking and how its poop is. Thats about all I have but maybe this will bump your post so another with more experience will have some answers

 

[hawtchick]

Can she get away from the heat lamp? she may be too hot. Is there plenty of clean water and food for her to get to? Hope she calms down for you.

 

[becstalls]

The brooder is large, so there's plenty of space in the heat or out, I even put in a place to hide. I'd been handling her for a bit, and she pooped on me just a few minutes before this all started. It was the same color as all of the rest of the chick's poops, but it was all solid, there was no liquid part. I'll try to keep an eye on her!

 

[chickerdoodle]

Could she have eaten too many shavings and its impacting her little crop? Has she eaten well? I would try a little hard cooked or scrambled egg and see if she'll eat. Poor little thing I hope she is OK!

 

[becstalls]

I soaked a paper towel and put little drops of water on her bill, which she would drink. She's not calling much now, which I don't know is good or bad. She's still panting, but not gaping. She's standing there with her eyes closed. I don't know if she's genuinely sleeping or not. I'm hoping the water helped. It might seem silly, but please pray for my little chickie!

 

[moderndayhippy]

Quote:
That's not silly at all. I just said a prayer for your little one.

 

[becstalls]

Thanks for the help everyone! She made it through the night and seems more or less OK now!

She is sleeping the same as the others and WITH the others, which she had stopped, and she is eating and scratching. I haven't seen her drink yet, which I'm going to keep a close eye on, because I think she may have been dehydrated. Thanks again for the advice and prayers!