Baby Chicken question

[jrward]

My baby chicken is about 42 hours old, is not very active yet, not drinking on it's own and has not eaten. I have been giving it water with a dropper and it drinks then. It scoots around a little, will stand for just a second or two and then lays back down. Is this normal...it just seems very lethargic and I am getting concerned that it is not going to make it. Any advice, experience, etc. greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[gryeyes]

Chicks sleep A LOT for the first few days after hatching.

 

[5Leepy!]

when you say "scoots around" what do you mean exactly? Does she scoot backwards or forwards? Does it seem like she has issues with her legs? balance? How's her neck doing? Is she holding her head up straight? Add some sugar to that water you're giving her and see if it helps her energy level.

 

[jrward]

By "scooting" I mean that she will kind of lunge forward a few inches at a time. Today she hasn't held her head up at all unless I am giving her water or I stand her up, but when I let put her back down, she just sinks back down into a flat out laying down position. Now one of her back legs has been straight out behind her and it won't stay under her...and no, she doesn't seem to want to stand today or hold her head up. Could the leg straight out behind her be a type of splay leg or problem with her leg. We just hobbled it using the bandaid method, but that just seems to make both of them lay straight out behind her instead of keeping them under her. I'm thinking this is not looking good...Sugar water has not perked her up over the course of the day and I have been giving her poly-drops too. Is there any hope?

 

[5Leepy!]

it's sounding to me like it's possibly Coccidiosis. Did you hatch her yourself? Has she had access to your soil?

Here's some info:
Coccidiosis

Coccidiosis is a parasitic infection in which parasites frequently found in soil or bird feces infect the intestines of domestic birds, growing quickly. It can be fatal but any chicken surviving an infection will be immune to future infections. The video here may be difficult to watch, but is educational and shows how a symptomatic chicken behaves.

Medicated feed grower feeds medicated with Amprolium do not prevent infection. Chicks receive low doses of medication to better manage infection once chicks are exposed. This gives chicks a better chance of surviving their initial infection and earning their natural immunity. Feed medicated feed until two weeks after chicks are put outside where they may be exposed.

Corid larger dose of Amprolium used to manage infection. It is easier on the chickens system than other treatments. Corid should be your first line of defense if it is available.

Sumlet 12.5% Solution this is Sulfamethazine, which is much harder on the chicken. Only use Sumlet if you cannot get Corid or if Corid proves ineffective.

If you are unable to find either of these locally, here is a pdf list of medications that may be used to treat Coccidiosis.

Also... it may be a vitamin deficiency/wry neck. If you google this you should find some videos that show what that looks like so you can get an idea if that's what it is or not. You can also search in this forum for "wry neck" and find the treatments.

Good Luck!