Chick is lethargic and "throwing up"

[KarateHorse]

Hello everyone. I have two chicks that are almost two months old. They went outside a week ago into a growout pen that has a heatlamp so they didn't get to cold. Well today I found them laying around and not moving much. The pullet was being lethargic, the cockeral was "throwing up" clear liquid and they both had very runny waste. I figured they might have gotten too hot so I brought them inside where it was a little cooler. I was already running late and had to leave for three hours. When I came back, the cockeral was dead and now the pullet is depressed and also "throwing up." I got her to drink a little bit and she ate a little food on her own. She is not moving much and is very lethargic. They were just fine yesterday and were flying all over their pen, having a good time. I have seen chickens "throw up" clear liquid before but it was never anything serious like this. Does anyone have any advice? What might be causing this? Thanks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your pullet?

The liquid coming from the beak sounds like a crop issue - is she pooping? How does the crop feel?
Did they eat any long strands of grass/hay or anything that could have cause the crop to back up?
Do they have a source of grit?

Photos of poop may be helpful.

Some of the symptoms you describe could also be Coccidiosis. Do you have any Corid?
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

 

[KarateHorse]

How is your pullet?

The liquid coming from the beak sounds like a crop issue - is she pooping? How does the crop feel?
Did they eat any long strands of grass/hay or anything that could have cause the crop to back up?
Do they have a source of grit?

Photos of poop may be helpful.

Some of the symptoms you describe could also be Coccidiosis. Do you have any Corid?
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/

Thank you for the reply. I haven't seen her pooping. Her crop is very squishy and she isn't eating. I am currently treating her and two other pullets for Coccidiosis. The other two are getting better but she isn't. They don't have any grit.

 

[HenniesInMyHeart]

My first thought was cocci also. Glad they are being treated. They MUST have chick grit (crushed granite)! Please get them some ASAP, it is necessary to help them break down their food for absorption. I am praying for your little one, hope they all get better.

 

[rebrascora]

What do you feed them? Is there grass in the pen? I agree that is sounds like a crop impaction and if you have not provided grit, this may be the problem. Chick crumbles go to mush inside the crop when mixed with water but most other foods need grinding up. Because chickens do not have teeth to chew, this grinding up process occurs in the gizzard which is a strong muscular pouch inside the bird. They need to ingest small stones to facilitate this grinding process. If they do not have access to grit then their system gets blocked up and they die. Usually the birds will lose weight before death if this is the problem.
Another similar issue is if they have eaten long strands of grass. Some chickens will gorge on grass, particularly at this time of year because it is lush and sweet. If the strands of grass are too long, hey ravel up inside the crop and become a soggy plug that prevents other food and sometimes even water from passing into the digestive system. The refluxing of liquids indicates a blockage either in their crop due to long grass or in their gizzard due to lack of grit to break down the grass. Regular crop massages and liquid only feed and giving them some coconut oil are the first steps to helping to break down and pass a crop impaction and supplying them with a source of grit (this is very different from crushed oyster shells)
If they are refluxing fluids then there is also a risk of them aspirating those into their lungs and suffering respiratory distress and possible infection, so there are quite a lot of issues to be aware of and on the look out for.
Good luck with helping your pullets to recover.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for the reply. I haven't seen her pooping. Her crop is very squishy and she isn't eating. I am currently treating her and two other pullets for Coccidiosis. The other two are getting better but she isn't. They don't have any grit.

Are you using Corid to treat for Coccidiosis? What dosage?

If she is having crop problems, then she may not be drinking enough medicated water. You have 2 things going on at the same time. Try treating the crop, but encourage her to drink.
Some crop problems can be difficult to get cleared, just be patient and keep going.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/
http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/impacted-slow-and-sour-crops-prevention-and-treatments

 

[KarateHorse]

Thank you all for the replys but she passed away and 3 other chicks that started showing signs of Coccidiosis also passed away. I have one chick that is still holding on. I treated her for Coccidiosis and she is doing a lot better. She isn't showing signs of impacted or sour crop. I hope she lives.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you all for the replys but she passed away and 3 other chicks that started showing signs of Coccidiosis also passed away. I have one chick that is still holding on. I treated her for Coccidiosis and she is doing a lot better. She isn't showing signs of impacted or sour crop. I hope she lives.

I'm sorry to hear about your losses.

You may want to treat all your chicks for Coccidiosis.
Use this dosage for your Corid....1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon of water. Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

For your sickest chick direct dose her with Corid in addition to making the medicated water available. Here's the direct dose information: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/

Here's how to give meds orally: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...er-construction-check-back-for-updates.73335/

It would be a good idea if you lose any more to have some testing/necropsy performed. Here's a link to the NC state lab system http://www.ncagr.gov/vet/ncvdl/