Help PLEASE?!? Newbie here. 11 day old chick sick

[azygous]

Now for the issue of heat. You aren't heating the brooder. You only need a single heat source for the chicks to replenish body heat. They need the majority of the brooder to be cool so they can regulate their body temperatures by shedding excess heat as well as warming themselves. They are just like lizards at this age. Improper heating contributes to pasty butt and constipation.

You only need a heat footprint under the heat source at around 80F at eleven days. The entire brooder should not be 80F. If you take away the light, the heating pad will probably be sufficient. I would create more of a height gradient, lower at one end, higher at the other, so the chicks can touch the pad with their backs if they feel chilled. Direct contact is how the heating pad system works.

Using only the heating pad "hut" will allow the rest of the brooder to be cool, allowing the chicks to feather out more efficiently and to wean themselves off heat in a more natural manner. By 21 days, they should no longer require heat during the day. By five weeks, they should be finished with needing heat, even at night.

 

[aart]

Change out heat lamp bulb for a regular white light bulb for light.

 

[Bz1]

Medicated feed doesn't always prevent coccidiosis. I still think 90ish is too hot. It's perfect breeding ground for coccidia too.

Thanks for the info. I am watching them to see if they stay under light or move away and they do both, but never at the end where they're furthest from bulb.
So would you say treat for cocci?

 

[Bz1]

I have my 2 week old chicks around 80f... we are in a colder
Climate and the are brooding indoors. They lay together but not on top of each other at night and move about and scratch when awake. Someone on here told me to ditch the thermometer and look at the chicks and seems to be working. When I was at 90 they seemed lethargic and slept more.

Maybe the heating pad cave and light is too much?

Is the poop normal? Is there lots of ventilation in the brooder? Have you given them electrolytes?

I hope it gets better soon!

Good info. Yes, I pay more attention to them re: temp. Poop normal and good ventilation. Took off probiotics and electrolytes 3 days ago... will put back on.

 

[Bz1]

When a chick goes from well to sick suddenly, they are probably constipated. Not eating and drinking is another clue. I doubt if it's coccidiosis, which would be a 20% chance compared to an 80% chance of constipation being the issue with this BO. If this chick had pasty butt, it's 99% likely it's now constipated.

Chill some coconut oil if you have it. It's much easier and safer to administer to chickens, especially a tiny chick. Measure out one teaspoon of the solid oil. Break off tiny bits and pry the beak open and slip them in. Get all one teaspoon into the chick.

No pasty butt here :-~

 

[Bz1]

Now for the issue of heat. You aren't heating the brooder. You only need a single heat source for the chicks to replenish body heat. They need the majority of the brooder to be cool so they can regulate their body temperatures by shedding excess heat as well as warming themselves. They are just like lizards at this age. Improper heating contributes to pasty butt and constipation.

You only need a heat footprint under the heat source at around 80F at eleven days. The entire brooder should not be 80F. If you take away the light, the heating pad will probably be sufficient. I would create more of a height gradient, lower at one end, higher at the other, so the chicks can touch the pad with their backs if they feel chilled. Direct contact is how the heating pad system works.

Using only the heating pad "hut" will allow the rest of the brooder to be cool, allowing the chicks to feather out more efficiently and to wean themselves off heat in a more natural manner. By 21 days, they should no longer require heat during the day. By five weeks, they should be finished with needing heat, even at night.

Thanks for the info. Yes, heat not an issue. Have light and hut, but they can get away if needed. I watch them to see and watch the thermometer as well. no pasty butt.

 

[Bz1]

Change out heat lamp bulb for a regular white light bulb for light.

Not sure why as their heat source is good and moderated, but thank you for the thought.

 

[azygous]

If you are confused as to whether to treat for constipation or to treat for cocciciosis, it does absolutely no harm to treat the chick for both.

 

[Bz1]

If you are confused as to whether to treat for constipation or to treat for cocciciosis, it does absolutely no harm to treat the chick for both.

What would you do to treat for either?

 

[Kiki]

Corid treats coccidiosis.
Not sure about how to treat constipation.