5 wk old very sleepy, help please.

[jenni2142]

Monday I got a 4 wk old chick, the parents were clean legged bantam mille and d'uccles. She(I hope) was 1 of 6 that hatched and the only one to survive a puppy attack. She seems to sleep a lot, most of the time and cheeps in her sleep through the day but not at night. Sometimes she even does locater chirp in her sleep. She seems scared until we wake her. She is eating, sometimes it seems she doesn't even fully wake up to eat or drink. She eats chick starter(moistened), cornbread, yolk from boiled egg, greens from outside, and yogurt. I know she is eating because she insists on being with a human at all times except at night when she is sleeping in her crate. She grooms frequently, even in her sleep. She has no trouble flying when she is awake. I am concerned with how much she is sleeping and her legs, and around her beak seem paler now than the orange they were when I first got her. Is this normal? I have had baby chicks(8) once before but they were in a group. Is there anything else I should be doing for her? I welcome any advice or suggestions. Thanks.

 

[CarriBrown]

First, she should be given some grit since she's getting treats.
I'm wondering if she's lonely/depressed? Do you think you could fool her by putting a stuffed animal and a mirror in her crate with her? She looks healthy in that picture. Have you tried some sugar water?

 

[jenni2142]

that was the pic taken when i got her. she does get grit. i have tried the stuffed animal, mirror, hot water bottle, and wrapping her in washcloth. nothing works but to be held, normally by me. she was sleepy the first day and then perked up on day 2 and 3. Now she is back to sleepy all day. She even falls asleep in the middle of eating or drinking. She has stopped playing and now just seems desperate to be with me all the time, but then all she does is sleep on me. She is never alone during the day, only at night and I cover her with my hand until she falls asleep. She is quiet in the morning and seems to be okay alone until she realizes we are up and then the crying starts until we let her out. yes she is a little spoiled but she deserves it. would vitamins help? i was going to get some tomorrow. This is what she looks like now, couldn't take the pics outside cause it is raining. She just wants to sleep and you can see how pale her legs have gotten in just a few days.

 

[dlhunicorn]

how long have you been giving this "extra" (extra meaning in addition to her starter and yogurt?)
I would start by getting some aviacharge 2000 (a complete nutritional supplement you can buy online from McMurry or Strombuergs) .... Also is her starter medicated? If not this can be an early warning sign of cocci.

 

[jenni2142]

She has only had the cornbread a few times, as I said she is always with me and sometimes jumps in my food. she only got a little bit and the treats started on day 1 because she was reluctant to eat the starter and I wanted to get something into her. I forgot to give her grit at first, I had to go get some. I hadn't planned on getting one this young, she was a freebee thrown in when I bought 3 adult sebrights. When she eats either the yogurt, or yolk she eats until her little crop is full and she is quite animated when she eats. I don't think the starter is medicated, it is the only one our feed store carries, I use the same one with my other birds now 5 months old. I don't know what she was fed at her previous home. She does have perky moments, she doesn't always look as droopy as the pic, It was past her bedtime, I just wanted to show her pale legs. She does not have access to my other birds but I do not know if she was kept separate at her previous home. Her droppings look normal most of the time, sometimes runny. She hasn't had much sun the past few days because of weather could that be partially to blame? What should I look for to see if it is cocci? Should I wake her up through the night to check on her? Is there anything else I can use instead of aviacharge, don't want to wait for delivery to do something.

 

[dlhunicorn]

I really do suggest the avia charge ... it is the best supplement out ther in my opinion for young chicks.
no I would not disturb her sleep at night though keep a good eye out and inform for the cocci med just in case you have to get it in a hurry.

 

[sammi]

is your house air conditioned?
she could be cold.
maybe a heat light at night would help..and another chick her age.

try giving her some Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, no iron..2 drops a day on beak..
might perk her up..

I'd have some cocci med on hand..

 

[jenni2142]

We have the thermostat set on 80. She won't stay under heat lamp, just cuddle with us. This morning she is only opening her eyes rarely and they are a little puffy, I'm wondering if maybe she's not so sleepy just something irritated her eyes maybe. She has been scratching at them but not a lot. will get vitamins today. Tried sugar water and she doesn't like it so I mixed some with egg yolk and a little yogurt. has eaten some of that and some crumble moistened with the sugar water. Is not listless, is very vocal and still cheeping almost constantly. No discharge from the eyes or anything, just puffy and closed. Could it still be cocci? What should I look for in the droppings or otherwise? should I put anything on her eyes? She was outside a few days ago playing in the tall grass and could have scratched her eye/eyes on it. She seems warm and has energy, if I put her down she is frantic to get back to me. nuzzles me a lot too. I would give her a friend but I don't have any and don't know anyone else close with chickens, would hate to risk another if I 'm not sure what is wrong.