Chick Health Issue

[hnt15]

Came out to check on chick this morning and my baby is not doing well. I checked her vent for crusted poo and not sure what else to do. anyone have ideas.

 

[azygous]

Sorry your chick is not well. I'd love to help, but you need to give me some clues to work with.

- How old is the chick?
- How many chicks all together?
- How large is the brooder?
- What is your heat source? How warm?
- What is the bedding? (Pine or cedar?)
- What have you been feeding, including any treats or anything the kids may have dropped into the brooder? Are you providing grit?
- Have small children been handling the chicks?

 

[hnt15]

thanks for responding

- How old is the chick? about a week old
- How many chicks all together? 12
- How large is the brooder? see pic
- What is your heat source? How warm? one heat lamp insure how hot
- What is the bedding? (Pine or cedar?) pine
- What have you been feeding, including any treats or anything the kids may have dropped into the brooder? Are you providing grit? just purina medicated chick feed
- Have small children been handling the chicks? no just me

 

[azygous]

The picture of the chick compared to the others tells me pretty much all we need to know. Your chick is falling behind likely because it's suffering from failure-to-thrive syndrome.

This means it could have internal genetic issues that are preventing it from utilizing nutrients in it's feed efficiently. These chicks don't process calories well enough to maintain any sort of body heat and they constantly seek warmth either under the lamp or by snuggling with other chicks.

Has this chick been eating today so far? How about poop? Chicks poop often so watch to see what it does when trying to poop. Many FTT chicks also have problems with constipation, and when they try to poop it causes pain and the chick chirps loudly while straining to produce anything.

Feeding a FTT chick high protein food such as boiled minced egg and crumbled tofu with a little Poultry Nutri-drench sprinkled over it can get some nutrients "main-lined" into it. When I have a FTT chick, I feed the special food to all the chicks to stimulate the weak chick to eat also.

But do watch the chick as it poops to be sure we don't need to treat it for constipation, too. Constipation can quickly kill baby chick if not treated right away.

 

[hnt15]

thanks I will try the minced egg. I have not seen the chick poop I cleaned the vent but it does not look like it is moving in and out like it is supposed to

 

[azygous]

Offer the minced boiled egg, and watch carefully as the chick eats. Usually, a chick will poop soon after it eats something. If it strains while squatting and especially if it chirps loudly as it squats, you will need to get some oil into it ASAP.

I use slightly chilled coconut oil since it is easy to stuff a half a teaspoon into its beak by breaking up tiny pieces of the oil. But mineral oil or olive oil will work, too. Be sure to get at least half a teaspoon into the chick.

The Poultry Nutri-drench is also essential as it is formulated to go directly into the blood stream without needing to be processed through the liver, which likely isn't doing a terribly great job since it may not be fully developed.

 

[hnt15]

thanks...the chick at a little egg and immediately pooped it did not make noise or strain. it was a little runny white and brown.

 

[azygous]

That's a relief you don't need to deal with a constipation issue. But keep a close eye on her for any signs of it.

 

[hnt15]

I will....I am hoping she pulls through will keep feeding her eggs and have a close watch on her.

 

[azygous]

You're catching this FTT thing early, so you have a good chance of getting her caught up.