dying chick

[djfred]

Almost two days ago one of our chicks that we hatched 2 weeks ago seemed to have a neck problem. I thought it was broken. We left it for the night thinking it wouldn't make it through. In the morning it seemed somewhat better and was trying to walk and hold it's head up sometimes. I put her in a box inside the brooder and gave her water every hour by putting it's beak in electrolytes which she seemed to take hesitantly. She slept most of the day but was upright and her neck seemed fine. By evening she was eating on her own with good energy. This morning she was on her back and chirping constantly. I have tried water but she won't open her beak or her eyes. I can't keep her off of her back but keep trying to prop her up for comfort. I thought she would have died by now and don't know if there is anything I can do to help her. Any thoughts, PLEASE!!

 

[plund]

I'm sorry that is happening to both of you. I had a Hinks lavender orp chick hatch 2 weeks ago, I had to zip for him as his head was under his wing. He acted the same way for about 6 days, he would try to scratch his throat & then fall over backwards. It isn't fun not being able to help them. I held him & massaged his throat very softly. At least holding him seemed to comfort him. And me. I hope she is better soon, if that is not meant I hope she is able to go.

 

[Chickenfan4life]

This doesn't sound like something she will recover from.

The best thing you can do for her is ease her suffering; this article has some helpful ways to so ---> https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/humane-euthanasia-when-why-and-how

I'm so sorry; surely this must be the absolute hardest part of chicken keeping, having to do what's right, or knowing when to do what's right. I wish you peace with whatever decision you make.

 

[Mtn Laurel]

I'm new to this game - have only had chickens a year and just got 6 more chicks - but have been reading here a lot. I've seen similar threads where the chick can't walk straight, can't hold up head, etc. and it's determined to be a vitamin deficiency. I've read others talking about giving them the infant liquid vitamin Poly-Vi-Sol. You might want to search on the vitamin name and see if the different threads describe what you're going through.

Good luck to both you and the chick!

 

[djfred]

Thank you to all who replied!! I did have to do an assisted hatch on this chick as she pipped the side of the egg instead of the end. She has been very healthy and growing along with her hatchlings until now. Thank you for the euthanasia advice, I wasn't sure how to help her humanely. I understand that there isn't much I can do now but does anyone have thoughts on what I should have done differently when she rebounded yesterday. She mostly slept so I kept free choice food and water with her. She didn't use either that I saw until late evening when she was sitting on her dish eating away. I never saw her drink, other than when I would help her throughout the day, but honestly thought she was out of the woods and that if she was eating surely she would drink as well.

I will look into the vitamins for the other chicks!