is my chick dying?

[shailey]

Can she stand? Can she walk? Now I'm wondering if she could possibly have a foot or leg injury causing her pain. When she eats and drinks fine, do you feel like she is eating and drinking enough?

we were feeding them just corn for a few days, thinking it might be something to do with a vitamin deficiency so i put vitamins in there water with Electrolytes and vitamins, im going to check on her now

 

[shailey]

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.

she hasn't had anything to cause a neurological issue, so im still thinking its a deficiency.. just looking at the signs of what shes going, ill try and get a video of her

 

[shailey]

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.

i will make sure to check them this morning when i let them out, she's alway eats after everyone else is out, she'll walk over and sit to eat, i've watched her do it..

 

[shailey]

i watch her eat and will put water on her beak, i will sit her next to a water during the day so she can drink, she will eat fine, and is eating well,

 

[shailey]

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.

UPDATE: she is doing great, i have put vitamins in her water for almost a week now, shes up and at it every morning, im still a little worried, she doesn't seem to be gaining any weight.. she eats drinks and runs around fine but just isn't gaining weight, any ideas on what to do..?

 

[Eggcessive]

I know it has been said a few times, but I would really try to convince your parents to get some Corid at their feed store. Coccidiosis can make them skinny, weak, and to not thrive. There are different strains, some causing serious blooy diarrhea and sometimes death, while a couple cause chronic failure to thrive. That can affect how they grow and later, how well they lay eggs.

 

[shailey]

What type of food are you feeding her?
What does her poop look like?

The beak looks like it has a small wound - possibly from a feeder or fencing - it should heal up on it's own

If she is not active and acts lethargic, puffed up, not eating/drinking and has runny poop with mucous or blood, then you may want to treat for Coccidiosis. Treatment is with Corid which can be found at most feed stores. Corid dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder per gallon or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon. Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.

See that she is eating/drinking well and not being kept from her food by any other chicks.
Keep us posted.

UPDATE: we bought them gallon of corid, just got here and just gave it to them, anything else i could do?

 

[Eggcessive]

Did you mix it it with water, 2 tsp added per gallon? That should be given for 5-7 days. How are they doing?

 

[shailey]

Did you mix it it with water, 2 tsp added per gallon? That should be given for 5-7 days. How are they doing?

there water is not a gallon, so i gave them one teaspoon each, just let them out this morning, no sign of it helping yet, they were just more aware.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

there water is not a gallon, so i gave them one teaspoon each, just let them out this morning, no sign of it helping yet, they were just more aware.

Hi @shailey
Do you mean you gave each bird 1teaspoon each of undiluted liquid Corid?

Can you measure how much water your water stations hold, so we can help you with the correct dosage?

Do you have any updated photos - also tell us about the symptoms you are currently seeing compared to when you started this thread.