Bantam chick seems very weak

[welovechickens]

I just got 2 bantam chicks today from a local farm store. They both acted fine until we'd had them home about 2 hours. Then the little Araucana bantam seemed to start getting weak. All it would do is sleep. I hadn't seen it eat anything, but it was drinking. By evening it could barely walk! I made up some weak sugar water and force-fed it a couple small drops of that. It didn't seem to make any difference, and I think the problem is it needs food. The droppings are either dark-colored or clear.

Does this sound like a sickness, or just lack of food? I made a watery "gruel" of chick starter and the weak sugar water, and have been trying to get it to take some of that. It refuses solid food, so that doesn't work so well.

I'm about to go to bed, after I give it another drink of "gruel", so I don't know what will happen in the night. I feel so bad because I told my mom she should get these two little guys because she had banties as a child and loves them as pets....now we may lose one right off the bat.

If it survives, I know those tiny, sickly little runts often grow up to be the sweetest pets!

I'll be back in the morning with an update.

Sorry to write 3 novels with my first post!

-Elisabeth

 

[jlmann]

Is your bird under a heat light? They should be kept at 95 degrees for the first week at least. Also i have had to "train" some of my birds to eat before (hatchlings) I normally get them in one hand and take my finger and gently push their beak into the food container then the water container . Most of them will get the idea pretty quick but sometimes you have to do this several times before they get the hang of it.
Unfortunately a certain percentage of birds just don't make it especially if they have been shipped long distances and/or been handled too roughly by feed store employees after they arrive.Keep your little guy warm and keep pushing the food and water and make sure his vent stays clean and hope for the best. Best of luck with your birds

JM

 

[welovechickens]

Thank you for the reply!
I woke up about 8:40 this morning with the chicks calling! The weak baby is still alive, and showed interest in the food!!! I do have them under a heat lamp, with a thermometer. The temperature averages about 93-94. Right now both of them are sitting in the food dish, and the weak one keeps pecking at it. My mom did grind up their food yesterday into much smaller crumbles, so they are easy for the tiny ones to swallow.

Now I'm wondering if it was younger than I thought and just didn't need food yet. It is steadier on its legs this morning too.

I hope the sun comes out today, so I can bring them out in the grass for some vitamin D. (I also have 12 new regular-size chicks who are already going stir crazy for some action outside their cages! haha!)

I'll see what happens through the day. Thanks again! We are relieved for now.

 

[welovechickens]

I just wanted to give a final update to you guys......my little bantam came through its weak spell with flying colors! It's still the smallest one of the 2 bantams, but has steadily become more fiesty each day! He/she eats 2 earthworms a day (how do they fit in that tiny crop??) and eats starter and drinks water like a pro! I guess it just had a bit of a rough start. He/she is completely spoiled rotten, and loves nothing more than to sleep in my hand, snuggled up to me.