Getting a Sick Chick to Drink

[redsoxrule]

Hi,

We have a sick chick, roughly a month old. She has labored breathing, with her whole body moving, and is chirping as she breaths. I'm trying to get electrolyte water (gatorade--recommended by the feed story) and garlic water (as seen on BYC) into her, but are having trouble doing so. Any suggestions/possible treatments would be very ,much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[EggSighted4Life]

For a bird that won't drink... I hold them in my hand, beak facing the bend of my forefinger... and drip just below the nostrils. When the liquid rolls around the beak into the mouth they usually gobble and swallow. The bend in my finger helps catch and direct the drip... about 1 time per hour until I see improvement. 1 or 2 drips per time.

Electrolytes may be important if she hasn't been drinking.

I personally would get Poultry Nutri Drench and use that. It has vitamins and amino acids.

How long has your chick been ill? Where did it come from? Any friends? Does she eat, and what? She still have heat?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi,

We have a sick chick, roughly a month old. She has labored breathing, with her whole body moving, and is chirping as she breaths. I'm trying to get electrolyte water (gatorade--recommended by the feed story) and garlic water (as seen on BYC) into her, but are having trouble doing so. Any suggestions/possible treatments would be very ,much appreciated.

Thank you

Can you tell us more about her symptoms?
Photo of the poop?
Any mucous from the nostrils, watery/bubbly eyes, lesions inside the beak, coughing, sneezing, etc.?
How long have you had her?

If you have Video of her actions/what she sounds like that would be good (upload video to youtube, provide a link)

 

[redsoxrule]

Can you tell us more about her symptoms?
Photo of the poop?
Any mucous from the nostrils, watery/bubbly eyes, lesions inside the beak, coughing, sneezing, etc.?
How long have you had her?

If you have Video of her actions/what she sounds like that would be good (upload video to youtube, provide a link)

Attached is a video (w/ poop in it).

Had her for 3.5 weeks, got her along with four others from the local feed store (she is the smallest). She has food, water, and a heat lamp and is in her own enclosure right now. I noticed her symptoms late last night.

No real outward symptoms other than the struggling for breath. Did get a recommendation from a friend to let her sit in steamy bathroom for a while, tried that once.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Have you gently felt her all over for anything that feels like an air bubble under the skin?
She chirps with each breath?

I would probably treat for Coccidiosis, but I'm just not sure what's going on with her. Could be failure to thrive - hopefully the others will chime in.

 

[redsoxrule]

Have you gently felt her all over for anything that feels like an air bubble under the skin?
She chirps with each breath?

I would probably treat for Coccidiosis, but I'm just not sure what's going on with her. Could be failure to thrive - hopefully the others will chime in.

Thanks for the advice! Haven't felt anything like an air bubble, and she was chirping with each breath, but that seems to have subsided. (it was constant all night, came and went this morning--hopefully it stays gone--guessing it wasn't a good sign)

 

[redsoxrule]

Can you tell us more about her symptoms?
Photo of the poop?
Any mucous from the nostrils, watery/bubbly eyes, lesions inside the beak, coughing, sneezing, etc.?
How long have you had her?

If you have Video of her actions/what she sounds like that would be good (upload video to youtube, provide a link)

Thanks for the tip! Tried it out with a little bit of success, hopefully I'll get better with practice! In response to your other questions i posted some more info above.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thanks for the advice! Haven't felt anything like an air bubble, and she was chirping with each breath, but that seems to have subsided. (it was constant all night, came and went this morning--hopefully it stays gone--guessing it wasn't a good sign)

How is she now?
If she is not struggling so much I would try to get fluids into her. Once she is drinking, then offer her a little wet chick starter.

 

[redsoxrule]

How is she now?
If she is not struggling so much I would try to get fluids into her. Once she is drinking, then offer her a little wet chick starter.

She seems to be about the same. Has been a little better at times, more lethargic at others. We have been hand watering her regularly (currently with a poultry nutri-drench, but with watery-gatorade and watered down vertex before), and she has been pecking at some dry starter.