is my chick dying?

Ok. Let me get this straight. She is eating and pooping normally, but just sits around and is lethargic?
Sounds like a parasite to me. Have you checked her for external parasites? I am in the same camp that you don't treat without knowing for sure the chicken has what you're treating for. You said there is no avian vet around you, but I have heard a regular vet can test a poop sample. Do you have a regular vet nearby where you can have poop her tested?
im 11, and i take care of almost 40 birds, i dont know what to do when things like this happen, my dad wont let me go to the vet will let me buy the things needed... im sorry if it sounds like im lieing im just scared of loseing my birds.
 
Don't worry. You are doing fantastic. Hang in there. Everyone here on BYC will do their best to help you. There is so much information for you to read here that in no time you will be an expert poultry keeper.

Many of us do not have an avian vet at their disposal. I'm one of them also. Sometimes the best you can do is read all you can and then give it your best shot.

You can buy Corid pretty reasonably at your local farm store. Tractor Supply, Orschelns, Farm and Fleet, etc. You can also find it on line at Valleyvet.com, Jefferspet.com and believe it or not, you can find it on Ebay at a reasonable price. Don't just treat the hen with problems, treat them all.

I agree. When you don't know where to start, what is really wrong or what to do about whatever is wrong, the best place to start is worming. You have covered the possible vitamin deficiency.

It doesn't look in your picture as if she is sitting fluffed up. Is she doing that at all? Is her head pulled down so she doesn't look like she has a neck? If so I would suspect an infection of some sort. Is her comb and wattles red or pale? If pale, it can be a sign of illness or parasites.

She is eating? Are you giving her extra protein? Some chopped hardboiled egg or tuna? I even give mine left over chopped up meat from dinner.

Maybe @casportpony, @Wyorp Rock and @oldhenlikesdogs will join the discussion and offer some new suggestions for you.

You are doing a great job. Hope your hen gets to feeling better.
 
Oh, Sweetie. You are doing a wonderful job! It didn't seem like you were lying; I was just trying to understand. Can you answer some questions?
Is she drinking normally?
Is she eating normally?
Is she pooping normally?
Is her only symptom acting really tired, bored, and lifeless?
Maybe you can look her body over under her feathers. By "external parasites," I meant lice, mites, or fleas.
Also, has her comb faded in color at all? That might be hard to tell if she's only 10 weeks old.
There are a lot of people here with lots of knowledge and experience. Don't worry about if you can't get to a vet. I bet someone here can help figure it out. I'm so sorry about your chick not feeling well. I love mine a lot and know it is difficult.
 
Crooked chicken posted that medicated chick feed "has something in it to treat worms." Medicated chick starter only has amprollium in it, the same medication as Corid, but in a tiny dose, which is supposed to help prevent coccidiosis. That will not treat worms. It also will not treat an acute outbreak of coccidiosis.

Shailey has said that they have vitamins and NutriDrench, both of which have multiple vitamins. Both are good, but only use one at a time, and do not give CodLiver Oil--another source of vitamin A and D on top of that.

Thank you for clarifying that. I don't use medicated feed, but wasn't sure if an issue would arise with adding the corid.
 
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Oh, Sweetie. You are doing a wonderful job! It didn't seem like you were lying; I was just trying to understand. Can you answer some questions?
Is she drinking normally?
Is she eating normally?
Is she pooping normally?
Is her only symptom acting really tired, bored, and lifeless?
Maybe you can look her body over under her feathers. By "external parasites," I meant lice, mites, or fleas.
Also, has her comb faded in color at all? That might be hard to tell if she's only 10 weeks old.
There are a lot of people here with lots of knowledge and experience. Don't worry about if you can't get to a vet. I bet someone here can help figure it out. I'm so sorry about your chick not feeling well. I love mine a lot and know it is difficult.
hes eating fine, she droppy most of the time, and she drinks fine too
 
Don't worry. You are doing fantastic. Hang in there. Everyone here on BYC will do their best to help you. There is so much information for you to read here that in no time you will be an expert poultry keeper.

Many of us do not have an avian vet at their disposal. I'm one of them also. Sometimes the best you can do is read all you can and then give it your best shot.

You can buy Corid pretty reasonably at your local farm store. Tractor Supply, Orschelns, Farm and Fleet, etc. You can also find it on line at Valleyvet.com, Jefferspet.com and believe it or not, you can find it on Ebay at a reasonable price. Don't just treat the hen with problems, treat them all.

I agree. When you don't know where to start, what is really wrong or what to do about whatever is wrong, the best place to start is worming. You have covered the possible vitamin deficiency.

It doesn't look in your picture as if she is sitting fluffed up. Is she doing that at all? Is her head pulled down so she doesn't look like she has a neck? If so I would suspect an infection of some sort. Is her comb and wattles red or pale? If pale, it can be a sign of illness or parasites.

She is eating? Are you giving her extra protein? Some chopped hardboiled egg or tuna? I even give mine left over chopped up meat from dinner.

Maybe @casportpony, @Wyorp Rock and @oldhenlikesdogs will join the discussion and offer some new suggestions for you.

You are doing a great job. Hope your hen gets to feeling better.
she is sitting normaly, but she sleeps on her side and when i stand her up, sinks to one side
 
Good point, @micstrachan!

@shailey, please check her legs. Gently check her legs for what might be obvious breaks. If you find none, gently flex her joints. Bend and straighten her legs at the hip, elbow and ankle. Check the bottom of each foot for scabs and swelling that might indicate bumble foot. Straighten her leg and watch her reaction to see if she reacts to anything you do. If it hurts her, trust me, she will let you know. Also check to see if she grasps your finger with her toes if you put your finger against the bottom of her foot. If she doesn't she could have a nerve injury. If she reacts to pain, squawks, struggles against you, etc then she has either a soft tissue or joint injury.
 
she is losing weight..shes about 10 weeks old...shes eating and drinking fine...feeding them chick starter/grower feed...just checked on her she was laying on her side with her neck to her back...she inresponve to most things she just lays there all day and does nothin...she is a free range bird too...she is sitting normaly, but she sleeps on her side and when i stand her up, sinks to one side

Hi @shailey
When you can, if possible - post a video of her actions(?) That may help us see more and give you better suggestions.

Can you separate her/bring her inside to give her some extra care? Keep her relatively warm (75-80F) and see that she is staying hydrated. If you have the Poultry Nutri-Drench, then add that to her water. You mention that she is drinking and eating well. See that she has plenty of chick starter available free choice. Check her crop to make sure that it has emptied overnight.

Laying on one side and her neck to her back sounds neurological. Wry Neck can be a cause of some of the symptoms you see - it is a symptom of vitamin deficiency, injury/trauma and certain diseases like Marek's or Avian Lymphoid Leukosis.

We know you are doing everything you can for her, keep us posted.
 

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