How can I save this chick???

[MH885]

We have 4 Bantams and one suddenly got sick. It had bubbles coming out of its mouth and we wiped them away. I'm currently still with the chick but its extremely lethargic and occasional throws it head back like its drinking other times it'll suddenly get up and be fine and eat or drink something. It's no longer doing that though. I'm very concerned that it's not going to make it by the morning. How can I help it?

 

[Thyme4Chickens]

Poor little chick. If you'd answer a few Questions hopefully more experienced members can help you out:

How old?

Previous eating and drinking? edit - sorry just saw you answered that

Checked for pasty bottom?

What heat source? (Bulb or heating pad - if bulb check for Teflon)

What temp in brooder?

Do you have poultry Nutridrench?

Sorry you're going through this!

 

[MH885]

Poor little chick. If you'd answer a few Questions hopefully more experienced members can help you out:

How old? Unknown. My guess it 1 to 2 weeks old.

Previous eating and drinking? edit - sorry just saw you answered that

Checked for pasty bottom? No pasty bottom, recently had very watery poop but still had a solid part.

What heat source? (Bulb or heating pad - if bulb check for Teflon) We use a bulb. How do I check for teflon?

What temp in brooder? Unknown.

Do you have poultry Nutridrench? They're eating Dumor poultry complete formula 20% starter. We grind it up a bit so they can eat it easier.

Sorry you're going through this!

 

[MH885]

Oh sorry. I put my reply into your comment

 

[TeenageRooster's Dad]

had bubbles and snutt last year. I gave them Tylan orally, 1/2cc or 25mg each.

I also put Corid in their water for a week. Both are off the shelf at Tractor supply (except Kalifornia)

 

[MH885]

Okay. Is there anything I can do for it rn? Its almost 2 am and I don't want the chick to die. My little sister is already devastated at the idea of the chick dying tonight.

 

[aart]

What temp in brooder? Unknown.

You need to know this, it's very important.
Pic of brooder would help.

Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:

They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.

The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. If you do use a heat bulb make sure it's specifically for poultry, some heat bulbs for food have teflon coatings that can kill birds. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.