Chick with droopy wings.......

[8LittleChicks]

Hi just brought my chicks home today they are 5-6 days old, and I have one that I brought home to hopefully keep alive (the man at the store gave her to me) she had a curled foot so I put a "splint" on it and she seems to have perked up in the last few hours, but I have another little one that seemed fine when we picked them out, but now that we are home she has droopy wings and is not interested in eating, will drink if I dip her beak, but will not do it on her own. Does any one have any ideas? I have put my to little sickies in a smaller box together, and will hope for the best. Is there any thing I can feed her that may help. I am not totally new to chicks but this is my first set of my own, I helped my mom raise 42 last year and we never had one sick chick.

 

[bantybev]

Sometimes a dose of polyvisol (without iron), or generic equivilent infant vitamins can perk up a weak chick. I mix one drop with a teaspoon of water (it smells and tastes horrid if not diluted) and put in an eyedropper. Place it along side the beak and drip, one drop at a time. Don't force, they usually will automatically swallow. This has worked for me twice now, when I thought a chick might be failing to thrive. I do it twice a day for a couple days and it really has helped so far for me.
Hopefully someone more experianced will chime in, as I have only cared for 3 batches of chicks so far. I also have good luck tempting them with a boiled egg yolk, smashed up with a fork to promote eating. They don't need grit if feeding egg yolks. I have heard some mix the yolk with a little plain yogurt for digestion help, also.
Good luck with your chick...it may be just a little stressed and need coaxing to eat and drink for a day or so.

 

[8LittleChicks]

Thanks for the reply. We lost her just a few minutes ago But on the bright side the one we brought home thinking it wasn't going to make it seems to be doing much better.

 

[Kittymomma]

Sorry about your little chick. You may want to keep an eye on their backsides. Sometimes chicks will get pasty butt which in when the feces builds up over their vent making it so they can't eliminate. If it's not cleaned off the chick will die. Sometimes they just fail to thrive too and there really isn't anything you can do about that. I'm glad your little crippled one is doing better though, it's nice that you were able to save it.

 

[8LittleChicks]

Thanks for the welcome

I did check for pasty butt, everyone checked out good, including the sick one. Not sure what happened, but I still have eight (well 16 but only half are mine) since we seemed to have saved the one.

 

[bantybev]

Awww, I'm sorry to hear this

I hope the others all continues to do well. Like KittyMomma said, sometimes they just don't thrive. It could be unseen internal problems or injury from before you got them.