Catatonic Chicks

[Lrpete]

I have the strangest thing going on with a batch of chicks I just hatched a week ago in my incubator. After they hatched and dried till fluffy, I put them in the brooder box in the coop (see pic) with a warming shelf that I’ve used many times without any problems. After a couple of days in the brooder, I started finding 1-2 chicks laid out flat away from the heater and very cold. I thought they were dead, but when I’d pick them up, they were still alive, but barely, so I brought them in and put them back in the incubator to warm up. So far, all but one has survived.

This morning I went to the coop and found one chick laid out at the edge of the heater and 3 more were flat out under the heaters. I brought them in and they’re now back in the incubator. I expect them all to survive, but I can’t figure out why this is happening. The heaters seem to be working fine and I have them set about 4” above the chicks. There is one chick that has been a repeat “victim” almost every day.

I have them on a very good starter/grower mash and I put electrolytes in their water. Plus, they get dried meal worms for treats and I take them outside when it’s not raining to teach them to scratch and run around, but they’re rather low energy chicks and don’t want to follow me around like others have.

Any thoughts as to what’s going on here and what I should do about it?

I tried to attach a video of them moving in the incubator, but I can’t attach it. Trust me, they’re not dead and are moving a bit.

@Wyorp Rock

 

[Lrpete]

I just went to check on them and they’re moving around, but I just noticed what looks like watery poop under them. Now what?

@Wyorp Rock - The vet needed a tsp of poop to send to a lab and I didn’t have that much. I’m inclined to just start them on Corid. Thoughts?

 

[MEK2024]

I'm very new to chick caring, and had a similar thing happen 4 days in to one I'd brought home from the feed store. She suddenly took a turn for the worst in the evening and I didn't have anything but electrolytes and probiotics on hand. I sadly lost her that night but went and picked up Nutra Drench based on posts I'd found here and videos recommending it on YouTube.

 

[WoDia]

@Lrpete Good call bringing them in until you find out what’s happening. They’re very young, so they may be chilled… even with the brooder plates. Give Nutridrench (or similar vitamins) for a quick boost. Do you monitor the brooder temperature with a thermometer? I hope someone that broods outside will help you soon, because I only brood mine inside. For now, continue to keep them inside with a consistent 90-95, away from any drafts. Provide a cooler side to give them a choice of temperature. Monitor behavior… that will give you a clue about whether the issue is temperature-related.

 

[Lrpete]

@Lrpete Good call bringing them in until you find out what’s happening. They’re very young, so they may be chilled… even with the brooder plates. Give Nutridrench (or similar vitamins) for a quick boost. Do you monitor the brooder temperature with a thermometer? I hope someone that broods outside will help you soon, because I only brood mine inside. For now, continue to keep them inside with a consistent 90-95, away from any drafts. Provide a cooler side to give them a choice of temperature. Monitor behavior… that will give you a clue about whether the issue is temperature-related.

Thank you. Seeing the watery poop this time makes me wonder if it could be coccidiosis. I’m on my way to town and wish I would have thought to get a sample of the poop to take to the vet to check.

 

[WoDia]

Thank you. Seeing the watery poop this time makes me wonder if it could be coccidiosis. I’m on my way to town and wish I would have thought to get a sample of the poop to take to the vet to check.

If you can get a vet to do a fecal, that would be the way to go. Have you seen any blood in the droppings? If not, treating them for that with the Corid won’t hurt them. Wait until after the treatment process to give them vitamins, so none of that will lessen the effectiveness of the Corid. I hope that’s not what they’re suffering from. Please keep us updated. They are soooo adorable.

 

[Lrpete]

If you can get a vet to do a fecal, that would be the way to go. Have you seen any blood in the droppings? If not, treating them for that with the Corid won’t hurt them. Wait until after the treatment process to give them vitamins, so none of that will lessen the effectiveness of the Corid. I hope that’s not what they’re suffering from. Please keep us updated. They are soooo adorable.

No blood, just watery brown poop. Have decided to go home to get fecal samples and take to the vet. Going to get something for coccidiosis, too, just in case.

 

[WoDia]

No blood, just watery brown poop. Have decided to go home to get fecal samples and take to the vet. Going to get something for coccidiosis, too, just in case.

I hope you find out what’s wrong, so you can get them feeling better quick. Let’s us know.

 

[Lrpete]

If you can get a vet to do a fecal, that would be the way to go. Have you seen any blood in the droppings? If not, treating them for that with the Corid won’t hurt them. Wait until after the treatment process to give them vitamins, so none of that will lessen the effectiveness of the Corid. I hope that’s not what they’re suffering from. Please keep us updated. They are soooo adorable.

The vet needed at least a teaspoon of poop to send to a lab. Didn’t have that much and it’s a 70 mile round trip so I’m not likely to get that done. I’m inclined to just start them on Corid.

 

[WoDia]

The vet needed at least a teaspoon of poop to send to a lab. Didn’t have that much and it’s a 70 mile round trip so I’m not likely to get that done. I’m inclined to just start them on Corid.

Have they perked up being inside? Eating and drinking okay? If they are showing signs of coccidiosis, then start treatment right away. Keep them warm, change the bedding very often, and urge them to drink the Corid water. Read this link for dosage:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/updated-corid-and-amprol-amprolium-dosing.818879/