Baby chick suddenly crashing (need help)

[clickchicks]

Little chick has made it through another night, though no tangible difference in condition today. Still able to stand and walk, but weak and doing the same thing where it will plop down after a minute or two.

How long does it usually take for a chick to bounce back from coccidiosis on treatment? Would be good to have some sort of baseline so I can monitor if actual progress is being made or if this chick just continues to suffer from whatever is ailing it.

 

[Tonyroo]

Gotta have patient, all chicks are generally different when it comes healing. So the thing to do is monitor every hour or so. And take necessary steps to help it along.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Little chick has made it through another night, though no tangible difference in condition today. Still able to stand and walk, but weak and doing the same thing where it will plop down after a minute or two.

How long does it usually take for a chick to bounce back from coccidiosis on treatment? Would be good to have some sort of baseline so I can monitor if actual progress is being made or if this chick just continues to suffer from whatever is ailing it.

I wouldn't say hes suffering.. if he was chirping non stop, not eating or drinking, then he would be suffering.. but he is just coming along at his own time. Even if it is neurological, you could make easy modifications to accommodate him.

 

[clickchicks]

Thank you both for the encouragement. I really want this little one to make it and thrive and will do all I can to help it along.

Its been 5 days of this, hopefully the fact this little peep is still here means its a fighter.

 

[clickchicks]

Here's a video update for today.

Sorry about all the poop. I change the towels out multiple times a day, but I walked in on them like this and didn't want to disturb.

Still not any better but it was already out of the brooder plate with its friends, which I hope is a good sign.

 

[AngBantamLuv]

Aww little chick looks so much better!! Love that little surge of running!

 

[gtaus]

I change the towels out multiple times a day, but I walked in on them like this and didn't want to disturb.

I only use the paper towels for the first 2-3 days. From what I understand, the use of the paper towels is to prevent the newborn chicks from eating the bedding. After they find their food and water, then I don't think the towels are needed any longer. At that time, I take the towels off and let them walk on the pine shavings or wood chips.

I mention this because last time I had brooder chicks I used wood chips and rather than cleaning it out all the time, I would just fluff up the wood chips and/or throw another thin layer of chips on top. After about 8 weeks in the brooder pen, I had maybe 6 inches deep of wood chips. When I moved the chicks to their outside coop, I just dumped all those brooder wood chips into the compost pile.

My goal was to minimize my effort in raising the chicks, and I learned that a good wood chip base absorbed the little chicken poo and I no longer had to clean out the brooder multiple times per day. Just fluff up the chips every few days, as needed, and/or throw some fresh chips on top. I never had any problems with smell the 8 weeks I did this.

The other thing I wanted to mention was that I think the chicks have an easier time walking on pine shavings or wood chips rather than on the paper towels. I always considered the paper towels a bit more slippery than wood underneath their feet. If your little one has a harder time keeping balance, maybe taking out the towels and just using pine shavings, or wood chips, would help.

It looks like your little chick is getting better. Hope that continues.

 

[clickchicks]

I kept the paper towel because I wanted to closely monitor the poop. I worry I might miss something (specifically more bloody poop).

I don’t think it’s a balance issue so much as it just doesn’t have the strength to stand for long. It will be standing in one place to eat or drink then just drop because it can’t hold itself up.

 

[gtaus]

I kept the paper towel because I wanted to closely monitor the poop.

OK, that makes sense. With wood chips or pine shavings, the poo disappears immediately. Also, my approach to brooding chicks has been based on getting healthy chicks without any problems. I have been lucky. If I had concerns, like you do, I suppose I would have to adjust my methods.

Looking forward to continued improvement updates later in the day.

 

[clickchicks]

Another night and little chick has made it through, but no visible progress/improvement.

I bought a digital kitchen scale to weigh everyone today, since that might help me determine what direction we're headed in.

Chick 1-

Russian Orloff, seems totally healthy, 68g/2.4oz

Chick 2-

Barnevelder, mostly healthy seeming but is less active than chick 1, 58g/2.04oz

Chick 3-

Barnevelder, the sick one, 48g/1.69oz

They are all 11 days old. Pictures aren't the greatest but they didn't want to stand still. Just trying to give a general idea of size.

Edit:
And just to be thorough, here's the brooder setup:

Everything in here was new and never used to brood chicks before. Puppy pads line the bottom (changed daily) with paper towels on top to spot clean when things to get too messy.

Today is day 4 of the corid treatment.