Dying Chick refusing to eat or chick.

[Kingdomsteader]

My hen hatched 10 eggs, one of them died trying to break out the egg. The other nine have been doing well for about 6 weeks. This evening, I went out to the coop and found one of them laying down, with one wing spread out. I pulled her out in case she was injured but she is getting worse by the hour. I was initially able to give her water and food, but now just about 6 hours late she is barely waking up. She feels like she is just bones as she was starving but I make sure they always have food and fresh water. What is wrong with her and how can I fix it.

 

[Slothinc]

Sadly, she may not make it. She might be failure to thrive. Keep her at the correct temp and at this point I would try to give her apple juice or sugar water with electrolytes. Just dip your finger into it and hold the drop of liquid up to the beak of the chick and let her eat it off. Never force liquid into their beak as they can easily aspirate.

 

[Kingdomsteader]

Sadly, she may not make it. She might be failure to thrive. Keep her at the correct temp and at this point I would try to give her apple juice or sugar water with electrolytes. Just dip your finger into it and hold the drop of liquid up to the beak of the chick and let her eat it off. Never force liquid into their beak as they can easily aspirate.

Unfortunately, you were correct she did not make it through the night. All her siblings seem to fine after a thorough inspection. I feel bad that I didn’t catch it before.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I know it feels bad when one of our babies dies but sometimes it has nothing to do with anything you did or didn't do, they just ... die. This is why most hatcheries will send along a couple extra of whatever chicks you ordered, because a certain amount of ... attrition... or, losses, is to be expected. At six weeks she should have been fairly stable though, so I don't know.

What are you feeding them and do you provide crushed granite grit in a separate vessel? Do you ever see bloody poops? Do they get out of the coop for sunshine and exercise? And how big is the coop in feet, L x W?