HELP!!! 6 week old chick suddenly collapsed, mixed signs of life

[Jster]

We just got home and one of our chicks was collapsed in the pen, absolutely no signs of something wrong, last saw them about 5 hours ago and all appeared fine. He's warm, not stiff, but we can't really tell about breathing (too shallow???) we seem to feel a slight pulse. They had knocked over their water when we got home but it was filled with fresh at lunchtime. His crop feels hard but not warm or anything.

Please help ASAP, I'd love even if someone could talk on the phone, we don't have any idea what's wrong with him or what to even do to check him out, we brought him inside to be near us.

 

[SmittenChicken]

Have you tried giving him water and electrolytes with a syringe? Maybe some sugar water? Just a little bit at the edge of his beak, you don't want to drown him, especially if he's unresponsive.
Sorry about your chick, hope he pulls through

 

[Jster]

We tried to drop a bit of water in his mouth and he isn't swallowing or anything, he's completely unconscious, and we are afraid of doing anything that might hurt him.

We've looked over his body and everything is perfect, no problems or anything...

We also can't tell for sure that he's breathing, how do you tell???

 

[awesomechickens]

If he is unconsious and u feed him or water him it will kill him.My advice wait till hes consious and then force feed and water him.

 

[Lofty Dreams]

Avian Influenza (AI)
• Sudden death –NO
• Lack of energy and Appetite- YES, she wouldn’t eat or drink. Also she didn’t have energy to move.
• Decreased egg production/ Soft-shelled/ Misshapen eggs- NO, she’s too young to lay yet.
• Swelling of the head, eyelids, comb and wattles- Yes
• Purple discoloration of the wattles, comb and legs- NO
• Nasal discharge- Yes
• Coughing and Sneezing- YES
• Incoordination- YES
• Diarrhea- Yes

Exotic Newcastle Disease (END)
• Sudden death –NO
• Coughing, sneezing, gasping for air- YES
• Nasal discharge- Yes
• Diarrhea- Yes
• Depression, drooping wings, twisting of head and neck.- YES
• Circling, Complete paralysis, muscular tremors- Yes
• Swelling of the tissues around the eyes and in the neck- NO
The rooster's swollen comb and wattles.

Bronchitis
A cold in its lungs
• Loss of Appetite- YES, she wouldn’t eat or drink.
• Coughing, sneezing, gasping for air- YES
• Nasal discharge- Yes
• Watery eyes- YES
• Decreased egg production/ Ridged- shelled/ Misshapen eggs- NO, he’s not a she

Cholera Acute
• Sudden Death - NO, he lived for four days
• Fever - UNKNOWN, he was cold even though he had a source of heat
• Loss of Appetite- YES, he rarely ate or drunk water.
• Nasal discharge And Watery eyes - YES
• Depression and Ruffled Feathers - YES
• Diarrhea and Mucus Discharge - YES
• Head drawn back and pale and is the bird is breathing harder - Yes
• Decreased egg production/ Ridged-shelled/ Misshapen eggs- NO, he’s not a she


Resources:

"The Chicken Health Handbook"
By Gail Damerow

 

[Jster]

Our poor sweet little barred rock roo passed away, very peacefully.

We've lost so many chickens lately, all to predators and one accident, at least then though we could learn from the experiences and figure out a way to make our chickens safer. I'm so sad to loose our little roo so silently and strangely. I hope whatever happened to him isn't contagious.

I'm going to get that Chicken Health Handbook, maybe it will help next time.

Thank you for your quick responses.

 

[Jster]

I'm worried about my chickens. One of the other ones is jerking its neck in a funny way. I'm afraid they might have some larger neurological problem. Now I'm wishing I had a necropsy done on the first one who died Friday or at least called the extension about it, but then again, it was a Friday night, so I wouldn't have reached anyone until Monday anyway.

I'll post a video or something later today. Any suggestions or who I could contact?

If it's something like Marek's, will it get our older chickens too?