droopy 3 day old isolated, is she lonely?

[mamarose]

We just brought our chicks home yesterday, and within an hour or so, one of the RIRs started to have droopy wings and seemed to be panting. I needed to move the others to a bigger box, so I left her in the smaller one, wanting to keep her isolated in case it was something contagious. I tried to get her to drink some sugar water but she wasn't all that interested. She seemed to be fading and I was pretty sure she was going to die. I talked to the woman at the feedstore this morning, and she wasn't real hopeful either. She offered me a replacement chick and we picked it up this afternoon.

Well, droopy is still hanging on. She's still droopy, she spends most of her time standing still (with one foot in front of the other and her body sort of twisted), or sitting down. Occasionally she'll drink or move around. She's still panting, or seems to have labored breathing.

But now she's been absolutely alone for more than 24 hours and I'm starting to feel even more sorry for her -- she's not getting significantly worse or better, and she's probably really lonely! Do you think I should leave her alone still? Or do you think it might help her to be with the others? The woman at the feedstore seemed to think it was most likely just stress from travelling, but how sure can we be that it's not something that could spread? The other chicks are all perfectly fine and happy and chirpy and cute.

 

[gritsar]

The first thing I thought of when you said droopy wings and panting is that she's too hot. Classic sign.
Yes, she probably is lonely. They're flock animals. I'm surprised that she's not peeping alot and loudly.
A couple of things you can use as surrogate flockmates if you don't feel comfortable about putting her with the other chicks: a small hand mirror, a small stuffed animal or a clean feather duster (sounds funny, works great).
Good luck to you and her.

 

[mamarose]

Thanks for the reply, Kat. I thought that too, at first, about being too hot, and I kept moving her away from the hotter area under the light. And she kept moving right back to the same place, on the edge of the hot spot. Even alone in her space, all day today, she barely moves from the same place. When I've lifted her out to hold her, or to try to give her water, I put her back in a different spot and she goes right back to her place.

I'll try adding a mirror or stuffed toy, I don't believe I have a feather duster in the house.

 

[mamarose]

She's dying. She couldn't stand up anymore. I tried to feed her some more sugar water, but she wouldn't take it. Now she's lying on her side with her legs stretched out and feet straight and her breathing is slowing down.

And she's gone. I feel like I've failed already.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

You haven't failed by any means! Sometimes they just aren't strong enough to make it in this world. It sucks, but it's a fact of life. Sorry for your loss.

 

[Supermommy486]

Awwww hun I'm so sorry! But you didn't fail, unfortunately it happens

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