Help! Sick baby chick lethargic and laying on back

[Lizabethnichole]

I’ve looked everywhere for matching symptoms and can’t find anything similar. My three week old chick is very lethargic, not eating or drinking, and keeps throwing herself(himself?) on her(his?) back to sleep. I’ve separated from the rest— the others are all acting normal.

Both eyes are clear and feet look normal. All chicks have been in the brooder with food and water and have had corrid and vitamins. I’m not sure what it could be.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Sorry about your chick. I'm not sure about the sleeping on it's back. Is there a possibility it's getting knocked onto it's back, or is it doing it on it's own?
I agree with treating them with Corid. What dosage are you giving? Have you seen diarrhea or bloody droppings?
I could be wrong, but what I understand is Corid is a thiamine blocker, so supplementing them with B-1 defeats the purpose of the Corid. If the vitamins contain B-1, I would stop giving it to them until the Corid treatment is complete.
What temperature is your brooder, and what type of feed and bedding are you using?
Do you have any electrolytes? That might help perk it up until we get the problem sorted out. I like to feed finely chopped scrambled eggs to weak chicks.
Sorry for all the questions. Just trying to get some more info.
Maybe @Eggcessive has further advice?

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

Also, welcome to BYC!

 

[Lizabethnichole]

Thank you so, so much!
I’ve attached a picture of their setup.
I’m not sure the temperature inside the brooder, but they all seem to be moving freely from one side to the other with some under the lamps and others away from them.

Their bedding is natural pine pellet bedding and they are on country lane 18% chick starter crumbles.
I have been giving one scoop of chick starter probiotics with 1/2 tbsp corid every time I refill their water (usually once per day, twice if they make a mess of their water.)

I put some sav-a-chick electrolytes in this ones separate water, but he (or she) is not interested in drinking, even when I dip the beak in.

So far, it hasn’t pooped (or eaten) at all since I brought it inside this morning.

It is definitely throwing itself onto its back. It does what looks like a big long stretch and then just lays there and sleeps. It is not chirping or acting distressed, just sleeping (a lot) on its back.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

No problem!
Temp, bedding, and feed seem ok. The probiotics and electrolytes are good.
How large is your waterer? Liquid Corid dosage is 2tsp per gallon.
Maybe try giving it some water with a dropper. Just put drops of water on the beak, and see it it will swallow on it's own. I wouldn't drop water directly into the beak, as it can cause the to aspirate.
Could you offer it some feed mixed with water? Sometimes it'll entice mine to eat.
The sleeping on it's back has me stumped. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

 

[Lizabethnichole]

No problem!
Temp, bedding, and feed seem ok. The probiotics and electrolytes are good.
How large is your waterer? Liquid Corid dosage is 2tsp per gallon.
Maybe try giving it some water with a dropper. Just put drops of water on the beak, and see it it will swallow on it's own. I wouldn't drop water directly into the beak, as it can cause the to aspirate.
Could you offer it some feed mixed with water? Sometimes it'll entice mine to eat.
The sleeping on it's back has me stumped. Hopefully someone else will chime in.

I was able to get him to drink some water and a little bit of nutridench. I left for a few minutes and when I came back I found this. Bird throw up??? Or poop??? I can’t tell.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I was able to get him to drink some water and a little bit of nutridench. I left for a few minutes and when I came back I found this. Bird throw up??? Or poop??? I can’t tell.

I think it’s droppings, but I’m not sure. Sometimes greenish droppings are because they’re not eating much.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

@casportpony, can you help?

 

[Lizabethnichole]

@casportpony, can you help?

He (she?) has gotten significantly worse, and I think it may be wry neck. He is not able to walk and will only wake up when I rouse him to eat or drink. His head is very floppy. He has been drinking more water and I have been able to get some nutridench on his beak. Thank you so much for the tip about the water in the food! It made it much easier for him to eat.
I have removed the Corid from the other chicks and upped their vitamins.

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

He (she?) has gotten significantly worse, and I think it may be wry neck. He is not able to walk and will only wake up when I rouse him to eat or drink. His head is very floppy. He has been drinking more water and I have been able to get some nutridench on his beak. Thank you so much for the tip about the water in the food! It made it much easier for him to eat.
I have removed the Corid from the other chicks and upped their vitamins.

I’m sorry, I just saw this.
Is his neck twisted at an abnormal angle?
I’m glad he’s eating and drinking better. The nutridrench is good. I would continue giving it to him.
I’m starting to wonder if this is a neurological issue, but I don’t know.
Is any of the other chicks showing signs of being lethargic? If not, I doubt it’s coccidiosis. In that case, it’d probably be good to give him vitamins.