Help!!! Listless chick, is he sick? infect the flock? Newbie here

[wodaking]

Yesterday we moved our 2 1/2 week old chicks to the barn, dirt floor pen with a heat lamp and clean water and food (clean them out 2x-3x a day). They had out grown the basement.

They have some feathers and seem to be loving it (There are 26 of them)

This afternoon I was cleaning out their water and I noticed one chick (he's a production red) sleeping while the rest were running from me. I picked him up and he is listless and sleepy in my hands. All of my chicks will eat from my hand, but he won't eat or drink. Anyone know what it is? I'm afraid the new environment? Nothing has been in that part of the barn for years (we bought this farm as a fixer-upper) as far as I know. But when I read about infections diseases I'm afraid to put him back in the pen with the other chicks. HELP!!!

 

[TurkeyMountainChickens]

Sometimes it's a mystery with young chicks. It might not be anything that you've done. I would keep the listless one isolated just in case it is something contagious. Also keep him warm, with food and water offered. He may not make it, though.

 

[arch_cpj]

Ya chicks are finicy heres what Ive learned since I began raisin them in 92... If you want 25 birds buy 28 - 30 chicks No matter what you do youll lose some... Feed a medicated starter for 4 - 6 weeks and heres where I messed up this year its a good idea to feed a agrimyacin (oxytetracycline) antibiotic profalacticly for the first 2 weeks... I got cheap this year and thought awe medicated feed is fine well lost a chick last nite and in the last 100 Ive raised its the first so Ive learned that lesson put in some agrimycin today and will keep it for the next 14 days... If you are against antibiotics then expect up to a 20 - 25 percent mortality thats just the way it is... Good eye though listlessness is an early sign many newbies miss that you have a good handle on your flock !!!!!

 

[wodaking]

shortly after we pulled him fromt he pen he died.

He pooped out some blood at the last minute. Is that a sign of anything?

 

[wodaking]

thank you both for your encouragment. I'm not sure about antibiotics, but where do you get them and what is the cost involved?

 

[arch_cpj]

TSC or any good farm supply store enough to do 200 plus birds is 8 - 9 dollars really cheap for terymycin agrimycin its all oxytetracycline its water soluable I buy the agrimycin 843 some number after it but its sold as terrymycin etc it will say for chickens on it...

 

[arch_cpj]

sounds like coccideosis an intestional ailment HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS you need some medicated food and oxytetracycline I believe anyone else have thoughts on this????

 

[wodaking]

I ended up putting antibiotic in their water for about 4-5 days and didn't lose any more chicks. They are all feathered out now and turned one month old today. I'm so proud of my little brood.