HELP, 8 day old chick very tired and doesn't seem to eat/drink

[newtothis]

Our 6 chicks were all doing fine and this AM one of the SLW (the smallest of them all) is not drinking/eating that I have seen and is pretty much stationary and sleepy. Is that normal?? I hold her and she chirps a bit but if I put my hand in the brooder the others run as normal and she just sits there. What do I do??

 

[Camelot Farms]

Sounds like she isnt doing so well and sometimes this just happens. ((hugs))

I would make sure that you have Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) in their waterer. Are you using medicated chick feed? If not, I would.
Also, try offering the whole group some plain yogurt. It will help get some good bacteria in their gut.

Chin up!

 

[TwoChicks]

Not to steal the thread, but what does the ACV in the water do?

 

[Camelot Farms]

ACV helps to restore balance in the digestive tract and acts as a 'pick me up'

 

[newtothis]

I am feeding medicated starter and I isolated her in the pen but she wants to be with the others so she sneaked out and is back with them. I used a dropper and got her some fluids but she didn't eat the plain yogurt nor the crumbled egg yolk. I also gave her a drop of poly vi sol (no iron). She is still not active but she is still here. I feel like I am doing all I can. Still, not what I expected and I want her to LIVE!! I may isolate her again later this PM but we will see. I think being with them is good for her. No ACV but will try to get some soon. Did try pedialite and she was fine with it.

 

[gmendoza]

What is your bedding? if its pine,cedar or any type of straw GET RID OF IT!!! suggest you go to family dollar or dollar general and get thay rv placemat rubber material to use.they can grip it and wont get splayed legs,its reuseable and washable.

 

[rancher hicks]

I had two chicks do this. I moved them to a box of their own and kept it dark for a couple of days so they could get some rest. Give them their own food and water. Sometimes if they are on the bottom of the pecking order they can't eat or drink or rest. The pecking order is established even this young.

All the best
Rancher

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
Have you noticed and blood in her poo? Maybe cocci?

 

[newtothis]

They are on corn cobs and are all active but her. She seems actually worse. I put her back in her corner of the brooder but they all want in and she wants out. She seems very weak and hesitant to walk. I will see how it goes tonight but I don't think it is good. They are on medicated feed so I don't think it is cocci. How long before I know if the others have what she has or if she was just a sick chick when I got her?

Poop was normal, no blood or anything. But I swear she hasn't eaten a thing today.

 

[jimnjay]

I just hatched a chick that did much the same thing. On day 5 it still did not know how to eat. I used Hand Rearing Formula, found at Petco or Petsmart for caged birds. I made it very wet and smeared some on the side of my thumb and held the chick there and kept putting the food on it's beak. Eventually on about the third attempt every 30 minutes it took some and then it actually started to eat. You can try moistening the crumble to a very wet consistancy. Get some water into the chick by dripping from an eye dropper directly onto the beak. It will run down and the chick will drink it. They sometimes fail to thrive but I still try to get them going. My chick is doing great now and seems to eat all the time.