Chick spitting up water & lethargic?

[Bokbokbokbecky]

I have a 3 or 4 day old starlight green egger who is extremely lethargic compared to her cohorts. If she’s not eating or drinking she’s asleep, and she doesn’t get up to eat or drinking she’s very often. I just checked her over for pasty butt, checked her legs for shakes that might indicate vitamin deficiency and felt her crop (pretty empty but it’s early in the day still).

I give all my chicks rooster booster in their water till they’re old enough to go outside, the brooder is warm. We use a ceramic heat bulb on one side of the trough that they can be as close to or far from as they want. They’re on medicated chick starter feed. I’ve raised many many chicks in this exact setup so I’m stumped as to what’s happening with her.

Is there anything I can do for her or is this a wait and see situation?

 

[StinkyAcres]

At that age it may just be failure to thrive. Are you monitoring the temps in the brooder? How does her poop look? Rooster Booster Poultry Cell (I assume this is what you are giving) cancels out the benefits of the medicated feed, so it could be coccidiosis.

 

[Bokbokbokbecky]

At that age it may just be failure to thrive. Are you monitoring the temps in the brooder? By the way, Rooster Booster Poultry Cell (I assume this is what you are giving) cancels out the benefits of the medicated feed.

Really? I had no idea. Is it because of the live cultures?

 

[Bokbokbokbecky]

Really? I had no idea. Is it because of the live cultures?

Oh I just googled it. Thanks for the tip! I’ll switch to chick specific booster

 

[StinkyAcres]

Really? I had no idea. Is it because of the live cultures?

The medication in medicated feed is a thiamine inhibitor. Poultry Cell contains thiamine so the medication loses its effectiveness.

 

[StinkyAcres]

Sorry, I edited my first post too late to add another question. How does her poop look?

 

[Bokbokbokbecky]

The medication in medicated feed is a thiamine inhibitor. Poultry Cell contains thiamine so the medication loses its effectiveness.

Thank you. I just dumped the treated water and replaced with fresh until I can get the chick booster.

 

[Bokbokbokbecky]

Sorry, I edited my first post too late to add another question. How does her poop look?

It’s quite watery and brown. It doesn’t look “wrong” but it doesn’t look normal, you know?

 

[StinkyAcres]

It’s quite watery and brown. It doesn’t look “wrong” but it doesn’t look normal, you know?

Have you ever had problems with coccidiosis in your area?

 

[Bokbokbokbecky]

Have you ever had problems with coccidiosis in your area?

Not that I’m aware of. I’m on all the FB chicken groups in my area and I haven’t seen any posts. These chicks all came from Wilco and I’m 99% sure they came vaccinated. Should I treat with Corrid just in case?