5day old chick weak and lethargic

[Lexingtonbackyard]

I have a 5 day old chick who hatched along with 6 others a week ago. She is the last to hatch and is smaller than the others. They are kept separate with the two momma hens in a fenced enclosure. This chick started off running around and eating with the others. Today she is very lethargic with poop stuck to her. I haven’t treated her with anything and have only started putting additives in their water to support their growth and health. The chick is being ignored and stepped on so we brought it inside to care for it until it can get stronger. I intend to treat it myself. Any suggestions. There are no signs of injury and it seems physically developed.

 

[Debbie292d]

Hi,

Sorry about your chick.

Have you cleaned it's butt of the poop? That's called pasty butt and usually is heat related but in this one's case, it might be diet or something else. Do they get chick starter? We remove the layer feed from the adult feeder and put chick crumbles in there. Then we set out oyster shell as that feed is great for the adults as it's higher protein, but less calcium the hens will miss out on.

If your water additives have probiotics in, then I'd keep this one or all of them on this every other day for a week or so.

Also, if you have some Nutra Drench or Poultry Cell, you could also alternate days with that in the water. That will help them all get nutrients they might be missing out on. Not knowing what additives you're using, you may already have this covered.

 

[Lexingtonbackyard]

Unfortunately the chick passed. We made it as comfortable as possible. I know that sounds crazy. I don’t know if there was anything else wrong with it but we had a full week of 100 degree weather and high heat indexes.