Droopy Older Chick

[kathyinmo]

Note: If I recall correctly, from the research I did back then, when the feathers are loose it is one of the later symptoms (not an early sign). I had to treat 2 more today, and they both had loose feathers, and I am very worried about them pulling through.

 

[TariOronar]

Quote:
uhhhh. the bag they gave me at the feed store when I asked for some chick starter...we keep it in the shed, I'll check in the morning to see exactly what it says

 

[kathyinmo]

Is there any way that their feed has gotten wet, moist, moldy? This is a major cause of botulism. Any mold around they could have gotten into?
any of the following:
spoiled or wet feed/water
mud puddles or standing water or a pond
decaying vegetation including lawn clippings in water
kitchen scraps
compost pile
any toxin run off - (toxins used, lawn watered, water drunk)
canned goods
soured grains
under pens where manure is
maggots (even near flower pots)
anything at all decaying
mildew, fungus of any kind?

 

[TariOronar]

not that i can think of. We do have a compost, but it's been fenced ever since the baby thought it looked like a fun place to play. And I dont think I've ever seen them on that side of the yard anyway. So, I'm thinking either something under the peach trees. Or, I just remembered, Last Sunday, one got in the pile of drying wood, but I dont know which one. Maybe it is the same chick...
Well, I needed to turn it anyway so it can finish drying so i can stack it for the stove next winter....So I have a couple places to look....and clean out their pen really well, just in case.

 

[TariOronar]

We did an epsom salt flush today. A few hours later, when we gave her some water, she seemed a little perkier. She was standing instead of laying down, and looked at us. (she had had her eyes closed all day) So, I think it's helping -- I hope it is.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Hoping today brings more improvement for her

 

[TariOronar]

she's really not doing well. All she is doing is sleeping, and she barely even twitches when we go to check on her. Her feathers arent just loose anymore, some have just fallen out. Since it's been nearly a week since she's eaten anything, we dissolved some crumbles in her water, but we can barely get any down her. We did a epsom salt flush with her on saturday. But, the feed store was closed for the weekend, so we couldnt get electrolytes and vitamins until today. But we have that now.
Is there anything else we can do for her?

 

[TariOronar]

she made an effort to eat and drink a little, we have to support her and help her since she cant hold herself up. but she's also shaking. What else can I do for her??

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Do you have a light on her for heat? She will/does need an additional source since she is feeling so badly.


Do you have any Poly Vi Sol infant vitamins - non iron formula - if so I would drip a drop on her beak for her to swallow. If she will, two/three drops a day.

Might scramble or boil an egg and place in her beak to see if she will eat it. Others might disagree, but I would even try a raw egg - break it open, swirl the yolk and offer to her. Egg is easy protien for her body, perfect actually.

wish I had more answers for you

 

[TariOronar]

are the extra vitamins still needed since the electrolytes have vitamins in them? we didnt have the heat lamp plugged in cuase she seemed to be getting too hot. but i plugged it back in for a while.