HELP - Lethargic, Puffed out Feathers, &with her Wings Dropped down to the ground -1 wk old Ameraucana Chick

[SubjectFerret]

I've got a 1wk old Ameraucana Chick that started acting lethargic and had her feathers puffed out last night. I separated her from the other chick, who seem healthy, and kept a watchful eye on her. Yesterday she was still eating and drinking but not as interested in it as usual. She's been getting DuMOR 20% Chick Starter/Grower Crumbles. Today she's not eating or drinking and seems dehydrated. I've been syringing sugar water orally and she will readily drink but is so weak she falls asleep while trying to give her water. She did eat a very small amount of food. Otherwise she just stands in one spot with her eyes closed and her wing hanging down to the ground. Im thinking she's too weak to hold them up in place. All she wants to do is sleep. And she's been chirping but that's starting to stop. Please help me! I've never had a sick chick before and I don't want her to die!! My chickens are more to me than just chickens. They all have names that they recognize and come to. They're my girls and I probably spend too much time with them. I haven't had her very long and still haven't named her. I'm not sure what's wrong with her and I don't know what to do for her. Any advice or any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Ty for Your Time.

 

[coach723]

Have you seen any droppings from this chick, are they normal? If droppings are not normal then it may be coccidiosis. The chick is a little young for it, but it's not impossible. Corid is the treatment, it's very safe, if in doubt I would start that. Coccidiosis can kill quickly. Corid is available at most feed stores, tractor supply, etc. I will put pictures below, either the liquid or powder will work, most like the liquid for convenience. Dosing is 1 1/2 tsp of the powder or 2 tsp of the liquid mixed in a gallon of drinking water, that should be the only water they have access to. You have to get it into the sick chick for it to work so you may have to use a dropper and do it often until the chick starts acting better. Or you can dip the beak in a shallow dish or spoon to see if it will drink it that way. Make it fresh daily, and treat for 5-7 days. If this chick perks up on it then I would treat them all. I would also give this chick a stronger oral dose as well as the medicated water. Dosing for that is here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/
It's also possible that it may be a failure to thrive chick, sometimes that will show up at about a week. Sometimes there are things wrong inside due to hatch or incubation issues that we can't see. Keep trying to hydrate the chick, if you have chicken electrolites use those (room temp to slightly warm, not cold). You can also mix some raw egg yolk in some warm water and give that.

 

[SubjectFerret]

Thank you for responding. She's not having diarrhea or bloody stools. None of the other chicks are either. That being said, I'm leaving as soon as I finish this msg to get the things you've so kindly suggested. Ty for you kindness and help.

 

[coach723]

You are very welcome. Corid is always good to have on hand anyway, particularly when raising chicks. It can show up suddenly, and it's always good to be able to start treating right away. Droppings are not always bloody, there are only a couple of strains that present with blood. Many times it's just runny or mucousy. The biggest symptoms are the sitting fluffed up, lethargy, going off food and water. And those are common symptoms with many illness's. If in doubt, the Corid will not hurt anything. When they are so small it's often really hard to know for sure.