HELP! Should I separate this day old chick from the others?

[jk116]

Hi,
So I got a shipment from Cackle this morning. This is my third batch so I know a little of what to expect but- that being said none of my crews has behaved like the others so far. Anyway- I had 5 easter eggers in the crate 1 DOA which honestly didn't surprise me it was FREEZING in the post office even though I picked up the babies as soon as they opened but package was there since 5 am. I had to revive the rest of the group they were all listless. I now have 3 chicks running around like normal but I have one that is very tiny and still not really moving. I've been giving her water with a dropper which she drinks readily and also started giving her a homemade electrolyte concoction every 10-20 minutes. She has gone to the bathroom a few times while I've been feeding her (it's watery and green). She mostly keeps her eyes closed but randomly she'll have little bursts of energy (which surprise me she's actually pretty strong) and when I'm not handling her she doesn't really move she just sleeps (curled into a little ball). She has also been tossing her head back and sort of gurgling and making this clicking noise in the back of her throat when i give her liquid? When she is back in the brooder she also keeps tossing her head back like that- she has spit up some water a few times too.

Just curious if anyone can recognize these symptoms? Should I separate her from the other chicks or does this sound like more of a birth defect? I also had all of them vaccinated for Mareks
Thanks for any help

 

[MGG]

@Eggcessive , @casportpony , @azygous , @Wyorp Rock , @WVduckchick

 

[MGG]

I would put her and one of the other chicks in a tub together. That way they can cuddle and she won't be so lonely. She probably is just weak and stressed.

 

[azygous]

This chick has classic symptoms of shipping stress plus it may be size challenged with accompanying under-size organs. This means it needs a strong shot of glucose and nutrients. Anyone thinking of getting chicks, even just from a bin at a feed store, needs to be prepared to treat them for shipping stress.

Warm sugar water is better than plain electrolytes to boost glucose levels, plus Poultry Nutri-drench is an absolute must to mainline important nutrients that a sick chick may not be able to normally metabolize.

To dose a small chick, you need to pry open the beak and insert a narrow oral syringe into the right side of its beak (Its right side, not yours) The espophagus is located on the chicks right side of the throat and if you just squeeze in a drop at a time, and let the chick close its beak and swallow, it will be less likely to aspirate the liquid, which I suspect is why your chick is gurgling and spitting back up.

Unless a chick has a contagious disease, it should not be removed from the other chicks. It only adds needless stress to a chick already overwhelmed by stress.

 

[jk116]

ok thank you all so much! I just wanted to make sure it wasn't exhibiting symptoms of some disease I didn't know about before trying to nurse it through. I did buy some Nutri drench and the electrolyte mix I was giving was a mix of molasses water and salts so I think I did get some warm sugar water in in there.

I'm a bit confused about the dosing of the nutri-drench for "shipping"- how much to give to the chick and is it just straight from the bottle with no water?

The little one is still hanging on it seems she wants to fight. She even protested a little the last time I picked her up which is a slight improvement (I honestly was wondering if she could cheep at all!)

 

[azygous]

The dose for Nutri-drench for baby chicks is a couple of drops per day either directly into the beak or mixed into 1ml of water and given with an oral syringe. For the first week for all chicks, I usually mix a quarter teaspoon of Nutri-drench into their quart water bottle, mixed fresh daily.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I did buy some Nutri drench and the electrolyte mix I was giving was a mix of molasses water and salts so I think I did get some warm sugar water in in there.

I'm a bit confused about the dosing of the nutri-drench for "shipping"- how much to give to the chick and is it just straight from the bottle with no water?

I hope your chick improves.
Good suggestions from @azygous

I would not give the chick any more Molasses. PND does contain Molasses to begin with so that's enough. If you ever make a sugar solution for chicks, just use plain white sugar.
While Molasses aren't necessarily "bad" for chicks or chickens - they do have a laxative affect - good for constipated chickens (remember that! or as a system flush for toxins).

 

[Hughes Wildlife Farm]

Could the gurgling and such be that the liquid is chocking her, going down the wrong pipe?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could the gurgling and such be that the liquid is chocking her, going down the wrong pipe?

Very possible. Could be the contents of the crop coming back up. Could be a developmental issue (organs are not properly developed). Could be "failure to thrive". Could be some type of illness. Could be.....you name it.

Sometimes all we can do with chicks that small and young is try our best to carefully hydrate them, hope, wait and see how it goes.

 

[jk116]

I think I was overdoing it a little bit with the liquids at first- we've figured out a system the little one and I and she hasn't spit anything up since. I'm still at a loss for why she was throwing her head back constantly but she has stopped that as she has (slowly) been gaining her strength throughout the day.

The molasses comment- that makes absolute sense. I can honestly say that I believe I've seen evidence that it is in fact a chick laxative.

To be honest I believe this tiny one was added in by the hatchery as a "for warmth" chick- I ordered the 3x package (but usually they send me 6 total last time 5 survived) but I am rooting for her with an understanding that all I can do is hydrate, wait and cross my fingers.

Thank you again everyone for the suggestions and advice.