Is my chicken playin possum?

[Little_Rooster66]

Last week we put all of our 8 week old chicks out in their new coop and everything was going great; except we have one (who happens to be the runt) that 2 days after they had been out just started sitting around and not moving at all; acting sickly. When we picked her up her head started to bob around and didn't care that we laid her on her back on the ground. So... we put her back in the brooder and gave her some sugar water and let her stay the night in it, by the next morning she seemed as nothing was wrong. We returned her to the coop and within 2 hours she was doin the same thing, on her side legs shaking. Again we brought her back to the brooder and within a few hours was up and alert again, she has been in the brooder for 2 days now and everything seems fine. (eating, drinking, and running around the brooder chirping)

The first time around we thought because she was the runt it maybe dehydration but doing it again within 2 hours after being in the brooder eating and drinking the night before, we dont think that would be the case here. Could it be maybe she just likes being in the house and plays possum outside?

Does anyone have any ideas what she is doing?

 

[Sorin]

Hmmm..... I'm no expert, but that would not surprise me. She might not be taking the move too well. I think what you are doing is good, but maybe wait longer periods between putting her back in the brooder, so that she spends more time in the coop and she will probably get used to it. Just and idea, I may be wrong, hopefully someone else will help

 

[Country4ever]

I think if she were just avoiding the others, she wouldn't have some of those other symptoms (legs shaking). I think something is wrong with her.
Do the others pick on her at all? Give her a good once-over check up......crop, abdomen, vent. She may have some congenital problem. I had a runt, who ended up having problems her whole life (about 5-6 years). I would have to drain excess fluid in her abdomen every few months, and kept her separated for most of her life.

If I were you, I'd keep a good eye on her, because I think bigger problems might start showing up before long. You might not be able to figure it out......it might be some subtle problem with liver, heart, food absorption, etc.

 

[spish]

i have one just the same here now and its baffeling, she looks so sickly out there in the field while her siblings are having the time of their lives, yet if i bring her inside in the constant temp/security of the brooder, she perks up in minutes. im beginning to think they dont like the forever changing weather conditions outside. or maybe the spring breeze/noises of the outside world are too much to handle and they withdraw into themselves to block it all out?

 

[Country4ever]

??Maybe they do better inside because the space is limited and they don't wear themselves out outside? Just wondering....

 

[azalea]

Could the temperature changes be affecting her? Being the runt, she made need a little more time in the brooder.

 

[Little_Rooster66]

Thanks for the advice. It's also good to know we are not crazy and that there are other people having this issue as well. Update... She has been in the house back in the brooder since Sun. mid morning and she is doing well eating, drinking and sleeping on the roost at night. We will keep her in for a while and keep a close eye on her to see if her size may be the issue (she is only about half the size of her siblings) or if there may be bigger issues.

Thanks again for the advice.

as always!

 

[SilkieMomma]

I think it sounds like she may be cold. Myabe it is just going to take more time with this chick. Hopefully she is okay

 

[jomercer]

I vote for "too small and unable to keep her temperature up out in the wild yet."