Araucana 3 to 4 weeks old lethargic and almost always sleeping - Help Pls

[uktech]

Really sad to have her go like this but now I'm worried about the other two. All three were/are quarantined in a makeshift brooder box in my office. They spend the night here and the day in the shade outside in a separate section next to the older chicks.

It has been extremely hot here last 4 or 5 days, much hotter than what the chicks are used to. Temps have been ranging between 33 and 37 Celcius. Could this be heat exhaustion? Did I get to her too late on that basis? mouth wide open, rapid breathing, wings extended out or dropped to the sides, puffed feathers... The difference is where the older chicks are, they have created a makeshift dust bath for themselves and it's a nice shade. Where these three are/were it's shaded but still very hot.

I've made some electrolyte water and given them that. They are drinking plenty, eating not so much even though their crops are very full.

 

[Myrshine]

Sometimes cocci (coccidiosis) can make a chick go downhill like that really fast. Do they have any bloody stools? Paleness?

 

[uktech]

Sometimes cocci (coccidiosis) can make a chick go downhill like that really fast. Do they have any bloody stools? Paleness?

That was also my understanding and immediately ordered the meds but no bloody stools whatsoever. I've checked very carefully. The one that passed was pooing clear liquid as per the pics. You can actually see her do it in the video. She did that about 5 or 6 times in her last 3 or so hours

The other two are pooing as normal and nothing bloody in there.

Paleness, I honestly wouldn't know what normal is as the others tear me to shreds when I try to compare.

 

[eaking]

Could this be heat exhaustion? Did I get to her too late on that basis? mouth wide open, rapid breathing, wings extended out or dropped to the sides, puffed feathers...

That absolutely sounds like heat exhaustion to me. Sounds like you need more shade / access to cool(er) water and maybe some fans / misters?

 

[uktech]

Can't be 100% sure as there were no stools with blood but everything that this chick went through is identical to what my 8 week old is going through right now, the difference being I have the right medication to handle it.

The only difference is this black one passed during the blistering heatwave we had which made me think it could be heat exhaustion, however right now it's mild weather with rain but symptoms were all the same.

Anyway I'll end this chapter here. Just thought I'd update in case anyone ever goes through the same.