Help! Sick Chicks!

[ErikaH]

Brought home 7, 1 week-old chicks on Sunday 4/29. 5 different breeds. Just two days later we noticed one of our Cuckoo Marans (we have two) was not moving much, was weak, and breathing heavy. I immediately got online and started giving her water with an eye dropper. She drank some and would shake her head and spray around some. Tried feeding her yogurt and egg. She got weaker and eventually passed away. All of the other chicks seem happy and healthy. Now yesterday (5/4) our other Cuckoo Maran started not being as active. Today she is definitely lethargic and breathing heavy and doing the same thing as what the first one did. However, she still opens her eyes, peeps, walks a little, so she is a little stronger...how can I save her?!?
Tried feeding her yogurt and small curd cottage cheese and she shows no interest. Was able to kind of force a little egg into her, but otherwise will only drink.
My other chicks still appear happy and very healthy...just coincident that both our Cuckoo Marans seem to be sick?! (Spoke with the farm store after the first one passed and they quickly let me know that they haven't had any problems with with other Cuckoo Maran chicks.
I'm new to this whole chicken thing, all advice is welcome! Please and thank you!!

 

[Trace Dunaway]

Brought home 7, 1 week-old chicks on Sunday 4/29. 5 different breeds. Just two days later we noticed one of our Cuckoo Marans (we have two) was not moving much, was weak, and breathing heavy. I immediately got online and started giving her water with an eye dropper. She drank some and would shake her head and spray around some. Tried feeding her yogurt and egg. She got weaker and eventually passed away. All of the other chicks seem happy and healthy. Now yesterday (5/4) our other Cuckoo Maran started not being as active. Today she is definitely lethargic and breathing heavy and doing the same thing as what the first one did. However, she still opens her eyes, peeps, walks a little, so she is a little stronger...how can I save her?!?
Tried feeding her yogurt and small curd cottage cheese and she shows no interest. Was able to kind of force a little egg into her, but otherwise will only drink.
My other chicks still appear happy and very healthy...just coincident that both our Cuckoo Marans seem to be sick?! (Spoke with the farm store after the first one passed and they quickly let me know that they haven't had any problems with with other Cuckoo Maran chicks.
I'm new to this whole chicken thing, all advice is welcome! Please and thank you!!

This is way out of my league, I am a noob here, but there seems to be a lot of experts on chickens here, sohopefully you'll get the help you need. BEST WISHES will pray for you!

 

[Clucking_Crazy]

Hello & Welcome to BYC!

I am pretty new to chickens, and cannot help much, but I can tell you that the experts on this site will need more info. Like:
- pictures of sick chick.
- description or picture of sick chicks poop.
- you mentioned feeding your chicks things other than chick starter... are you also feeding chick grit?

The way you describe the chick "spraying water" makes me think this may be a crop impaction, but quite possibly could be a number of other things. Good luck, & I am sure more help will be on soon!

 

[ErikaH]

This is way out of my league, I am a noob here, but there seems to be a lot of experts on chickens here, sohopefully you'll get the help you need. BEST WISHES will pray for you! View attachment 1374434

Thank you, Trace. Me too. Losing my first chick was hard enough, I don't wanna lose another one already.

 

[ErikaH]

Chicks poo seems to be normal...well, like the others... soft but not runny, and white and brown. Chick has had mainly the medicated chick starter food and a little bit of small curd cottage cheese. Just tried to give a little yogurt and egg once we noticed she was weak yesterday. She doesn’t move much now, just kinda lays with her wings out slightly and head down on the pine shavings.

 

[ErikaH]

Hello & Welcome to BYC!

I am pretty new to chickens, and cannot help much, but I can tell you that the experts on this site will need more info. Like:
- pictures of sick chick.
- description or picture of sick chicks poop.
- you mentioned feeding your chicks things other than chick starter... are you also feeding chick grit?

The way you describe the chick "spraying water" makes me think this may be a crop impaction, but quite possibly could be a number of other things. Good luck, & I am sure more help will be on soon!

Thank you!

 

[Savedbygrace]

Sadly this just happens sometimes. I rarely see a chick bounce back when they start acting like that. Something I keep on hand for sick acting birds is a product called nutri drench. I have had that help with older birds, not sure it would help with a chick. Just make sure she has access to food and water. Sorry I don't have more hopeful advice for you, sadly this is a not so pleasant part of keeping animals.

 

[chickens really]

Brooder temp could be too warm?..Any pasty butt?.
I personally would stop giving anything other than the Chick starter and fresh water.

 

[ErikaH]

Sadly this just happens sometimes. I rarely see a chick bounce back when they start acting like that. Something I keep on hand for sick acting birds is a product called nutri drench. I have had that help with older birds, not sure it would help with a chick. Just make sure she has access to food and water. Sorry I don't have more hopeful advice for you, sadly this is a not so pleasant part of keeping animals.

Thank you for your response, I will definitely check on getting some of that product...if even for later on, just in case. Thanks for taking the time!

 

[ErikaH]

Brooder temp could be too warm?..Any pasty butt?.
I personally would stop giving anything other than the Chick starter and fresh water.

It's been about 90 at night...but does get warmer during the day since the garage gets warmer too. We weren't too concerned because the container we built for them is rather large...plenty of space to escape heat if they're too warm...but maybe we need to be more aware of that... I really don't want to loose anymore of our babies!!
No pasty butt...I've been checking them all two times a day and gently cleaning with a warm washcloth when there is anything stuck there.
And thanks for the advice about no treats yet. I looked up safe treats to give your chicks occasionally and small curd cottage cheese came up, so I thought that would be ok. I've given it to them twice since I got them a week ago and they DEVOURED it. I'll hold off though and save it for later...any idea of an age when those kind of things might be ok?
Thank you so much!!