7 Week Old Chick Suddely Lethargic

[jandm2007]

1) What type of bird , age and weight (does the chicken seem or feel lighter or thinner than the others.)

7 week old Silver Leghorn, feels lighter and weaker than yesterday

2) What is the behavior, exactly.

lethargic, puffed up, head pulled in. Not really eating or drinking. Poop is runny and yellow. Is grooming her feet occasionally. Mostly sleeping. Comb is pale looking not pinkish.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?

Started this morning

4) Are other birds exhibiting the same symptoms?

None. All others acting normal.

5) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No

6) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
Just started letting it free range in backyard more and more for about a week. Having a hard time keeping their water clean in the brooder. There are wood shaving and newspaper in brooder and they keep kicking it in their water. Cleaning it out several times a day. We have now raised the water higher to try to prevent this. Chicks arre getting active and trying to fly out of brooder and bumping into each other.

7) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
Some vitamin/electrolyte water. Some medicated started feed. Tried the crumbled hard boiled egg yolk but did not seem to like it all. Took a peck and then started trying to rub it out of its beak. Then dipped its starter feed in the water and it took a couple bites of that.

8) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Runny and cloudy yellow

9) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Just encouraging it to eat and drink. Have quarantined her with a heat lamp. Have not treated for worms yet.

10 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
Trying to treat ourselves. May treat for worms? Or Cocci?

11) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
12) Describe the housing/bedding in us

 

[realsis]

sounds like coccidosis. not all cases of cocci has bloody stool. Treat with Corid. corid kills ALL 9 strains of cocci while other meds only kill SOME strains. you can get corid at the feed store. hope this helps. best wishes.

 

[jandm2007]

Should I treat all the chicks with it? Even if they are acting ok?

She is acting a little better today. Still puffed up but drinking and pooping more normal now. The other chicks are chirping to her and she is responding back, which they weren't doing yesterday.

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would treat them all. Even if the sick one is acting better. If she takes a turn for the worse you'll loose her fast. It does no harm whatsoever to treat and is better then to risk loosing birds.

 

[jandm2007]

Found the Corid and treated all of my chicks tonight...I did the water and also mixed in with mash, which they ate up quickly. They have also all drank the new treated water. How long should I keep my sick chick away from the others? She has been doing much better today.

Thanks!

 

[cafarmgirl]

I would go ahead and put her back with them. Make sure you do the full course of treatment, 5 to 7 days. Make it up fresh everyday.

 

[seminolewind]

Found the Corid and treated all of my chicks tonight...I did the water and also mixed in with mash, which they ate up quickly. They have also all drank the new treated water. How long should I keep my sick chick away from the others? She has been doing much better today. Thanks!

I do that too in the beginning! I mix some treated water into the feed. Hope she's better.