Help! Week old chick, eyes closed, unmoving. Still breathing. Ideas?

[dawnjerrene]

We've tried dripping water into her beak. No response. She looks bad, and feels terribly boney on her backside. Her eyes are closed, and she won't open them. Just got her last Tuesday, from McMurray hatchery. Any ideas? Sugar water? Electrolytes? Help!

 

[MercyMe03]

I had a chick that was in a similar situation. I went and got poly-vi-sol. It's made by enfamil. You can get it at any drugstore. It really helped perk my baby chick up. Make sure you get the one that is iron free. I hope this helps your poor baby chick!!

 

[dawnjerrene]

I had a chick that was in a similar situation. I went and got poly-vi-sol. It's made by enfamil. You can get it at any drugstore. It really helped perk my baby chick up. Make sure you get the one that is iron free. I hope this helps your poor baby chick!!

Thank you, Mercy. She died a bit ago. The others all seem active and healthy. I can't even venture a guess what it was. Whatever it was, though, was very fast. She wasn't noticeably ill last night, around midnight. My kids are setting up a funeral. I will keep your idea in mind, for in the future. Now I need to do the chicken math to replace this one chick, and try not to bring home any more than 3. Thanks, again. Hugs.

 

[beckieotoole]

Having the same problem with our 2 month old black sexlink chick. Started last night. Identical symptoms. Called the breeder and she said it's a gate worm.It gets in their throat and they can't eat or drink. Have to get a dewormer. She says the worm can come from a fly or anything. Also said that the other chicks can get but you can give the other birds pumpkin. The slime gets around the worm & chokes it to death.She is emailing us the info and I'll let ya know more.

 

[beckieotoole]

Also just found out from breeder, give a mixture of apple cider vinegar and garlic powder mixed then a drop or two with an dropper can also suffocate the parasite. I'm trying this right now. Let ya know how it goes

 

[Eggcessive]

It is not gapeworm with a week old chick, but more likely a weak chick or stress from shipping. You might put some chick vitamins or electrolytes in the water for your remaining chicks, just in case. Sometimes it can take a week or two for the weak ones to die. Sorry for your chick's loss.

 

[mollybuck]

I am going through the same thing right now...I forced some mashed up worm and chick feed them dripped water on its beak...it seemed to drink ok...we shall see.

 

[beckieotoole]

My chick is 5 weeks old and was not shipped but bought locally, and thanks for the correction of gateworm to gapeworm. Will look that up

 

[dawnjerrene]

Does it need to be raw pumpkin, or will canned work? For that matter, will other forms of squash work?

 

[dawnjerrene]

Can anyone give me an idea of where to purchase an eye dropper? We were reduced to dripping water from a cotton ball today. I'd rather not feel that unprepared and helpless again.