Chick Weak and Not Walking or Eating

[Humble Shack Farm]

Hi Guys!

I have a two-day old chick, a standard size salmon faverolle chick, that suddenly appears to be weak, have no appetite, and is sprawling out almost like it is doing the splits with its legs and wings. The mother hen got a look at it this morning and decided to reject it so I pulled it inside to a brooder box, got it warming up, and gave it some molasses water. It seemed to have difficulty swallowing the molasses water (it was diluted so that it would be thinner and less sticky). I think it's possible that the chick either started with spraddle leg and couldn't walk to the food and water so it got very weak.
Is there a disease that could also cause this sudden change? It hatched normally and behaved like the other chicks for the first day. None of the other chicks (of various breeds and sizes) are having the same problems.
Thanks for any advice! I don't know if I found this chick in time to help it survive, but I will at least keep it comfortable.
Edit: I just gave it another drop-by-drop drink of the molasses water and it seemed to make it sneeze. What could cause that?
Also, it seems to be making repeated and constant efforts at swallowing, even while just sitting in the brooder box. That just seems odd.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

two-day old chick

appears to be weak, have no appetite, and is sprawling out almost like it is doing the splits with its legs and wings.

seemed to have difficulty swallowing the molasses water (it was diluted so that it would be thinner and less sticky). I think it's possible that the chick either started with spraddle leg and couldn't walk to the food and water so it got very weak.

Edit: I just gave it another drop-by-drop drink of the molasses water and it seemed to make it sneeze. What could cause that?
Also, it seems to be making repeated and constant efforts at swallowing, even while just sitting in the brooder box. That just seems odd.

Can you post some photos?

The chick may have been injured/stepped on or it's failing to thrive.
It sounds like you are doing what you can for it.
The sneezing and repeated swallowing - it may have aspirated some of the fluids you have been trying to give.
Instead of syringing fluids, dip a qtip in the fluid and press it against the beak so a little seeps in. Give the chick plenty of time to swallow before repeating.

If it's having trouble breathing/swallowing right not, then wait until that improves before trying to give more fluids. Try a little sugar water instead of molasses that may be more palatable.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/spraddle-leg-in-baby-chicks-what-is-it/

 

[Humble Shack Farm]

Thank you for your reply. I did what I could but the chick has died. I'm not sure what was wrong, but I'm glad it didn't suffer for long. I will watch the other chicks closely to make sure they don't develop the same problem.

For future reference, I was placing a single drop at a time on the chick's beak and letting it swallow it. Was that okay or would that also cause it to aspirate the fluids? I want to know in case I have to help any other chicks in the future. Thanks!

 

[Humble Shack Farm]

Wyorp Rock Thank you for your reply. I did what I could but the chick has died. I'm not sure what was wrong, but I'm glad it didn't suffer for long. I will watch the other chicks closely to make sure they don't develop the same problem.

For future reference, I was placing a single drop at a time on the chick's beak and letting it swallow it. Was that okay or would that also cause it to aspirate the fluids? I want to know in case I have to help any other chicks in the future. Thanks!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you for your reply. I did what I could but the chick has died. I'm not sure what was wrong, but I'm glad it didn't suffer for long. I will watch the other chicks closely to make sure they don't develop the same problem.

For future reference, I was placing a single drop at a time on the chick's beak and letting it swallow it. Was that okay or would that also cause it to aspirate the fluids? I want to know in case I have to help any other chicks in the future. Thanks!

I'm sorry about the chick

I think you were o.k. with giving one drop at a time and letting it swallow. I do that and haven't had any problems.
Hard to know what happened with the chick sometimes they fail, it may have gotten stepped on accidentally and had internal injuries, etc.

I hope the others do well.