Baby chick won't walk and doesn't eat on its own.

pinkpoppey

In the Brooder
9 Years
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I just got 8 chicks of different breeds today and two seemed to be sick. They were mail order from my pet chicken and in the box two were just laying there like they were dead. They weren't but they were panting even though it was chilly. One seemed to get better and got its balance once I fed it gatorade and electrolytes but the other isn't better. Now she can walk if she needs to but won't walk to food or water or peck at them. I also noticed she won't open her eyes. I have opened them and she reacted to sudden movements but once I let go she closed them again. The other chicks seem to be fine, even the one that was sick earlier. I think the sick one is an andalusian or a silver lakenvelder. I'm also worried that she'll get a disease cuz some of the chicks might not have been vaccinated. I know she was but her immune system might be too compromised. Also the brooder is made of wood and it could be something poisonous to them but none of the others look sick. Plz help! I'm freaking out here
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I'm sorry to hear the chick is not doing as well as the others. You can try dipping her beak in the electrolytes to see if she will drink if you haven't already. Sadly sometimes there is a weak one in the bunch and it is not unusual to lose one early on. It is unlikely that she would transmit any disease to the others or anything. If the others seem to be doing ok it probably is not the brooder.
 
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She does drink water when I dip her beak in it but she doesn't seem happy about it
 
She probably was worn out from being shipped and has some respiratory issues (the panting). It takes energy to breathe and she doesnt have much. A panting chick is pretty bad, they do not make it normally. She might not have enough reserves to make it. You gave her a little to drink, I wouldn't push too hard. She needs rest but she will probably slip away. I'm sorry.

Sounds to me like you are doing the right thing, one got better. I doubt that it is a disease she picked up from your brooder.
 

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