Days old chick opening beak, in distress

[ElizabethAdams]

I picked up some chicks from a breeder yesterday and the ISA Browns in the group seemed a little small and slow. Today, one of them is doing great and the other has gone downhill. She keeps opening her beak like she’s having trouble breathing. We have given her electrolytes and probiotic by oral syringe and are keeping her in a separate brooder. Any ideas what else I could do to help her? She is cheeping a lot and obviously wants something.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

She might have low blood sugar, you could put a little sugar in her water.

 

[rosemarythyme]

If you can get Poultry Nutri-Drench I'd recommend dosing her with that rather than probiotics.

 

[ElizabethAdams]

Thank you. We tried sugar water. If she is still alive in the morning I’ll go get some nutri drench.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Thank you. We tried sugar water. If she is still alive in the morning I’ll go get some nutri drench.

How is she doing?

 

[Blooie]

Are you sure she’s not just adjusting her crop? When they first start eating they can overfill the crop, and have to work a little harder to shift the contents around a bit. Just a thought.

 

[ElizabethAdams]

How is she doing?

Not well. She isn’t cheeping anymore. Just lying on her side. I gave her some molasses mixed with warm water early this morning but she could barely swallow. No crusty stuff or signs of infection. Just weak.

 

[AmeraucanaHank]

Not well. She isn’t cheeping anymore. Just lying on her side. I gave her some molasses mixed with warm water early this morning but she could barely swallow. No crusty stuff or signs of infection. Just weak.

I'm sorry.

 

[ElizabethAdams]

Thanks, I appreciate the suggestions. The others look great so far.

 

[Blooie]

Shoot, I was hoping it was just a full crop. I’m sorry.