Help - Sick chick, 4 weeks old

[Emma623100]

Hi everyone, we have a 4 week old buff orpington chick who is really not herself. She is lethargic/depressed (just standing my herself and sleeping standing up, she won’t lay down!), not eating or drinking very much and quiet. When we pick her up she doesn’t struggle at all and her chirp sounds a bit like she has a sore throat. She’s a bit puffed up like she’s cold. Her comb is quite pale too but hard to tell with her colouring. We started coccidiosis treatment yesterday and are giving vitamins. Have checked her for mites and patty bum, all clear. Her undercarriage is quite red but not patchy. Haven’t noticed any blood in her droppings or anything.

Any ideas what this could be? And anything else we can do for her? We love her very much and can’t bear the thought of losing her!

TIA

 

[GermanKennhuhn]

I would continue coccidiosis treatment and give the vitamins after she is through with treatment.
Good luck!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When we pick her up she doesn’t struggle at all and her chirp sounds a bit like she has a sore throat. She’s a bit puffed up like she’s cold. Her comb is quite pale too but hard to tell with her colouring. We started coccidiosis treatment yesterday and are giving vitamins.

Can you get some photos of her poop and how she stands?

Provide her with a heat source if she's acting a bit cold, but do make sure there's plenty of room to get away from heat.

Is her crop emptying overnight? Check to make sure.

If you are treating with Corid (Amprolium), then eliminate any extra vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) until you finish the course of treatment.
Liquid Corid dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid dose is 1 1/2 tsp per gallon of water given as the only source of drinking water for 5-7 days.

 

[Emma623100]

Can you get some photos of her poop and how she stands?

Provide her with a heat source if she's acting a bit cold, but do make sure there's plenty of room to get away from heat.

Is her crop emptying overnight? Check to make sure.

If you are treating with Corid (Amprolium), then eliminate any extra vitamins that contain B1(Thiamine) until you finish the course of treatment.
Liquid Corid dose is 2tsp or Powdered Corid dose is 1 1/2 tsp per gallon of water given as the only source of drinking water for 5-7 days.

Thank you so much!

We have followed your advice - Day 2 and she is improving quickly now, we’re so relieved. She is eating and drinking by herself and moving around. She has 5 other brooder-mates who all seem fine (we’re treating them all). It must has coccidiosis so really glad we caught it quickly.

Will withhold the vitamins until the treatment is complete.

She is such a sweet little thing, she must know we’re looking out for her

Thank you again

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you so much!

We have followed your advice - Day 2 and she is improving quickly now, we’re so relieved. She is eating and drinking by herself and moving around. She has 5 other brooder-mates who all seem fine (we’re treating them all). It must has coccidiosis so really glad we caught it quickly.

Will withhold the vitamins until the treatment is complete.

She is such a sweet little thing, she must know we’re looking out for her

Thank you again

I hope she makes a full recovery!
Keep us posted.

 

[Emma623100]

I hope she makes a full recovery!
Keep us posted.

She seems really sad again tonight. Has been eating and drinking a little but otherwise just sleeping under the lamp on her own and puffed up like a blimp.

Her crop seems okay (emptied overnight, no lumps or sour smell).

Attaching photo of stance (that yellow ball under the red light is her).

 

[Emma623100]

Big runny poop photo… no blood and can’t see any worms or eggs. Doesn’t look yellow to the eye (I’m shining a torch on it to see better), solid bigs are green with runny bits clear and white. But sure is a big runny poop for a little chicken…

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm sorry she's declining.

Is her crop emptying?

 

[Emma623100]

We haven’t been withholding food overnight (should we now?). Her crop felt small and a doughy, and could feel what I think might be a few pine shavings from the bedding.

I gave her a bit of coconut oil, which she wolfed down, and a crop massage. She perked up immediately and went straight to the feeder which she hasn’t done for a few days! This morning seems much improved thankfully.

What do you think this suggests? Will keep up the massage, anything else you’d recommend?

Thank you so much!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The best way to check crop function is for the bird to not have any food/water overnight, then see if the crop has emptied. (Full night's sleep)

If the crop is not empty/flat in the morning, then addressing that symptom would be a very good idea.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...w-to-know-which-one-youre-dealing-with.73607/