Chick with diarrhea, poor balance, and screaming

[Valyn-san]

Chick (about 1 week) has been having diarrhea for a while and started screaming. We took her out of the brooder to give sugar water and cleaned her vent from pasty butt. She stumbles down, has poor balance and rolled over a few times. How can we keep this chick alive?

 

[thecatumbrella]

Can you post a photo of her stool?

I've only noticed my chicks screaming if they're cold or alone. What is your brooder setup like? Do you use a heat plate or lamp? I assume your chick has companions?

Has she always had the poor balance, or did it start suddenly? Have you checked her for curled toes or splay leg?

Oh, and welcome to BYC! We're happy to have you here

 

[MysteryChicken]

Chick (about 1 week) has been having diarrhea for a while and started screaming. We took her out of the brooder to give sugar water and cleaned her vent from pasty butt. She stumbles down, has poor balance and rolled over a few times. How can we keep this chick alive?

What are you feeding?

 

[Valyn-san]

What are you feeding?

Starter grower

 

[Valyn-san]

Can you post a photo of her stool?

I've only noticed my chicks screaming if they're cold or alone. What is your brooder setup like? Do you use a heat plate or lamp? I assume your chick has companions?

Has she always had the poor balance, or did it start suddenly? Have you checked her for curled toes or splay leg?

Oh, and welcome to BYC! We're happy to have you here

She screams when not being picked up, our brooder is a modified plastic tote with a heat lamp above (hopefully post image of that too) we have 7 chicks in total. The balance just started last night, I noticed it after the heat lamp fell on the lid.

 

[Beau plus penny]

Chick (about 1 week) has been having diarrhea for a while and started screaming. We took her out of the brooder to give sugar water and cleaned her vent from pasty butt. She stumbles down, has poor balance and rolled over a few times. How can we keep this chick alive?

all of this sounds like coccidiosis except for the screaming but since its still a chick maybe this is normal. i would get corid immediately. in my experience they get wobbley a few days before it becomes fatal so if it is cocci you still have a chance to save her.

 

[Airyaman]

She screams when not being picked up, our brooder is a modified plastic tote with a heat lamp above (hopefully post image of that too) we have 7 chicks in total. The balance just started last night, I noticed it after the heat lamp fell on the lid.

Do you have a way to take the temp at chick level? While that heat lamp is far away, those solid walls on the tote could be trapping heat and what you think is diarrhea could be just watery poop from drinking alot of water, which they will do if it is too hot. While keeping the above suggestions in mind, try to see how hot it inside of that tote. You don't really want anything above 95F, better 90F at one week, then reduce by 5F each week.

 

[Beau plus penny]

Do you have a way to take the temp at chick level? While that heat lamp is far away, those solid walls on the tote could be trapping heat and what you think is diarrhea could be just watery poop from drinking alot of water, which they will do if it is too hot. While keep the above suggestions in mind, try to see how hot it inside of that tote. You don't really want anything above 95F, better 90F at one week, then reduce by 5F each week.

i would stitll suggest putting corid in her water as chicks are one of the most vulnerable to cocci

 

[Airyaman]

i would stitll suggest putting corid in her water as chicks are one of the most vulnerable to cocci

Yes, that is why I said to keep all other recommendations in mind.

 

[thecatumbrella]

She screams when not being picked up, our brooder is a modified plastic tote with a heat lamp above (hopefully post image of that too) we have 7 chicks in total. The balance just started last night, I noticed it after the heat lamp fell on the lid.

I'm definitely concerned about that heat lamp. Chicks need a small area to warm up, and a larger room temperature area to eat and drink. Do you have a larger brooder you're able to put them in, or are you willing to switch to a heat plate? Heat plates are much safer, mimic a mother hen, and use a lot less energy. I start my chicks in a plastic tote as well and would not feel comfortable with a heat lamp due to how much warmth it puts out. It's very difficult to control in such a small space.

Does every dropping look like that? I see a lot of moisture in it. That could imply the chicks could be overheating and drinking more water than usual. The color itself is not concerning.

If she stops screaming when you hold her, it's possible she's imprinted on you. A few of mine will scream if I'm not in the room.

I will tag a couple of more knowledgeable people to try and help you with her unsteadiness. @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive