baby chick - HELP!

[TeamChaos]

The little one is just about 12 hours old now. I found it alone and pecked in the nest box this morning. Brought it in, got it warm, s/he has been drinking water but not really eating. S/he has been crying constantly for the last hour and WILL NOT lay down. The baby relaxes under the heat lamp and wants to sleep but it will not lay down, instead it stands straight up and cries louder. I thought maybe it was constipated so I swabbed the vent and got a bunch of poop out (including a black goo, similar to a baby's meconium) but no more is coming out when I swab and I don't want to squeeze the little thing! It's a comfortable temp and it's got a few chick companions but it's definitely taken a turn for the worst. What could be going on??

 

[cackydoodledoo]

If it has food and water and temp is ok then I would say it is probably lonely!! Try putting a small stuffed animal in there for it to snuggle up to. Did you make sure it is drinking? Sometimes you have to dip their beak in the water to show them how.

 

[klmclain1]

Don't worry about it eating yet... I know they can live for a couple of days on their yolk sac. You said she's drinking water...is it sugar water? If not, try that. Give her a little time.

 

[TeamChaos]

She's drinking and she's got three pals who hatched earlier in the week with her. I didn't do sugar water for fear it would constipate.. It's strange, it's like she can't lay down. She's asleep on her feet, leaning into the feathers of an older chicken.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

I have a couple that do that!! They stand there and fall asleep. It's cute to watch them bobbing all over and then finally they fall over!!!