Help, 2 sick baby chicks

[Edwige]

Hi,
I am new to baby raising and I have 2 sick chicks!!!
One is half the size of the others, keeps falling over, shakes, loose droppings. She eats and drink on her own.
The other started showing weakness a few days ago. She shakes and is constantly swaying from side to side. Can't stand for long on her legs. She eats and drink.
The other 7 chicks are doing great, but I separated the 2 chicks today and started giving them vitamin E, B and selenium.
Any idea of what this could be?
They are silkies. Raised in incubator.
Thank you!!!!

 

[Edwige]

Forgot to say, they are 3 weeks old

 

[Edwige]

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

It sounds like you're doing the right thing. Separating them immediately was the safest option. See if you get them medicated feed. Do they have a heat lamp? What temperature is it in the brooder? Do they have any boogers or are they sneezing/coughing?

 

[Edwige]

I did not check for temperature, they are under a "hot plate." They don't seem to be too cold or too hot. I raised it a bit each week, but they seem to all be comfortable.
The feed is medicated special chicks. They have grits and I started giving them a spoon of cottage cheese a day.
No sneezing, coughing... no runny noses

 

[Edwige]

The 2 chicks that are separated are sitting on a reptile heating pad...

 

[FluffyButtBabies]

Do they seem to be doing any better yet? Any news symptoms?

 

[Edwige]

Do they seem to be doing any better yet? Any news symptoms?

Hi FluffyButtBabies,
Thank you for checking.
The tiny one is not really doing better. Maybe worse. He is having a hard time pecking on target. Also, I took the babies for a little run in the garden yesterday, and the poor baby got stung by a yellow jacket. It stayed laying down looking dead for 8 min, and then started being itself again.
The other one is a tiny bit better. But I did put them back with the others. They were stressed from seperation.
Since they take medicated feed, I don't think that it's contagious.
But I do still give them vitamins separately.
I'll continue for 2 more days and then I'll wait a couple of days in between.
Fresh air seems to do good. I will transfer them this weekend outdoors to a bigger area that is nice and covered. A rabbit house.
And keep the heating plate in there.
The 7 other chicks are really ready for the move.
I will keep you updated. I hope that the bigger one makes it. She is sooooo sweet.
The tiny one may or may not....

 

[ethanjenkins]

I would get them some water and put GSE in it. It works!!

 

[Edwige]

I would get them some water and put GSE in it. It works!!

Great!!!
Will get some today!!!
Thank you!!!