Help! My week old d’uccle is acting weird

[averypls]

Hello! So, yesterday i noticed my little d'uccle laying on her side and she had done it a few times throughout the day. It scared me, but each time i flipped her back over she was fine? Went right back to walking, eating & drinking. Well.. now today, shes not even interested in the food. Shes barely moving, and softly chirping. Ive given her poly-vi-sol without iron thinking at first it was wry neck from her being limp. Now Im not to sure what it could be. :/ any thoughts? Should I try sugar water?Thank you in advance!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your chick is having trouble.

Sounds like it might not be connecting with food for real and therefor has no energy??? Look at her crop compared to the other chicks. I always crush the feed extra for the first week which helps some but some babies just don't get it. Or check for pasty butt as it's deadly fast.

I might suggest tube feeding if the crop is empty. There are some threads on here with instructions using an airline for fish tanks.

If it isn't pasty butt or not connecting with feed... then it may very well be internal issues we cannot detect causing absorption or digestive issues in a chick this young as they don't start relying on their own system until after their yolk has been used up.

Honestly, poly vi sol is supposed to be recommended IF you already have it on hand or can't find Poultry nutri drench. Poultry nutri drench is a far superior supplement for chicks that includes vital amino acids.

 

[averypls]

Hi there, welcome to BYC!

Sorry your chick is having trouble.

Sounds like it might not be connecting with food for real and therefor has no energy??? Look at her crop compared to the other chicks. I always crush the feed extra for the first week which helps some but some babies just don't get it. Or check for pasty butt as it's deadly fast.

I might suggest tube feeding if the crop is empty. There are some threads on here with instructions using an airline for fish tanks.

If it isn't pasty butt or not connecting with feed... then it may very well be internal issues we cannot detect causing absorption or digestive issues in a chick this young as they don't start relying on their own system until after their yolk has been used up.

Honestly, poly vi sol is supposed to be recommended IF you already have it on hand or can't find Poultry nutri drench. Poultry nutri drench is a far superior supplement for chicks that includes vital amino acids.

Sadly, poly-vi-sol is all i had on hand. My TSC was all out of nutri-drench .

She seemed to be eating and drinking fine yesterday which is why that never seemed to be a concern, but ill mash up the feed a little more for her to see if she gets anymore! I appreciate your reply.

In the meantime ive given her some sugar water to see if that’ll perk her up a bit. Going to make some scrambled eggs and mush some crushed feed into it as well.

I have vitamin E and selenium pills if those would work in anyway?

 

[EggSighted4Life]

I have vitamin E and selenium pills if those would work in anyway?

I doubt it, it sounds like you are doing all you can. But you should try what will make you feel most comfortable.

Do you know if the chick is pooping?

I have had some that pick up the feed but never actually swallow it. And the vitamins int he water was the only thing they were thriving on... until I switch to plain water.

 

[micstrachan]

It sounds like a nutritional deficiency to me. If wet sone feed into a mash and dip her beak in it, will she eat? You may have to assist by holding her upright and gently guiding her.

 

[averypls]

It sounds like a nutritional deficiency to me. If wet sone feed into a mash and dip her beak in it, will she eat? You may have to assist by holding her upright and gently guiding her.

I tried to wet some feed and dip her head, she couldnt care less.. :/ shes just kinda resting now with her head down wanting to stay under the heat lamp. Feels like shes just getting weaker

 

[micstrachan]

I tried to wet some feed and dip her head, she couldnt care less.. :/ shes just kinda resting now with her head down wanting to stay under the heat lamp. Feels like shes just getting weaker

I’m so sorry. This little sweetheart might not make it. Did you look at her vent to make sure it’s not pasted up?

 

[averypls]

I doubt it, it sounds like you are doing all you can. But you should try what will make you feel most comfortable.

Do you know if the chick is pooping?

I have had some that pick up the feed but never actually swallow it. And the vitamins int he water was the only thing they were thriving on... until I switch to plain water.

I found some rooster booster that I have. I had put polyvisol in the water, but gonna switch to this instead. I havent been outside long enough to notice if shes pooping or not :/

 

[averypls]

I’m so sorry. This little sweetheart might not make it. Did you look at her vent to make sure it’s not pasted up?

Doesnt look like shes going to. Im not going to get my hopes up. I lost her buddy the other day. Had some sortve seizure in my boyfriends hand. It scared the hell out of me and i was sobbing! The one had been chirping non-stop since birth and i could never figure out what it was.. kinda worried if this was something contagious now?

 

[micstrachan]

I’m sorry. Can you check her vent?