Lethergic chick - please help ASAP

[iamthejake2000]

Hello all,

I have a chick that's about a week old that hasn't been thriving much. It's hardly grown, if at all, and today it's very lethargic. It doesn't struggle like the other ones do when picked up, it's very slow, and it's eyes are always half-shut. It does eat and drink water and I haven't seen any bloody stools or anything out of the ordinary in the brooder. When picked up it does cheep loudly so I don't think it's got any respiratory problems.

I was reading on this site to use Sulmet or Corid and despite living in a large metropolitan area I can't find either! The closest I've found is sulfadimethoxine and most places carry duramycin.

What should I do? I'm leaning toward the sulfa. Should I treat all the chicks with it? If so should I get probiotics as well? Quick responses appreciated as the chick doesn't look good and the stores close soon. Thanks much!

 

[lizanne]

Have you tried a vitamin? You can use "save a chick" that is mixed into the water (you can find it at feed stores), You could also get a Poly-vi-sol infant vitamin drops _ WITHOUT iron (most stores carry this). You just put a drop on their beak and it will go into their mouth. Is the chick still eating and drinking? Where did you get the chicks? Are all the other chicks acting "normal"?

 

[iamthejake2000]

I haven't tried a vitamin. Most other threads I saw recommended antibiotics.

The chick is eating. I haven't seen it drink. I have it isolated right now in case it's contagious and so I can see how its stools look. The other 7 chicks are growing like weeds and very active. This is my first time raising chicks but they all seem very healthy. I got the chick at Murdoch's (big chain feed store).

Should I get the antibiotics? If so should I mix it with probiotics, and should I treat just the sickly one or all of them?

Thanks.

Update: The sickly one I isolated ... "defecated".... Its stool looks perfectly healthy.

 

[lizanne]

I (personally) don't like giving medication, unless I know what the issue is. It could just have some kind of problem that it was born with (a birth defect) or it could have been damaged in shipping on the way to the feed store. If you feel like it might have some kind of infection, and you need to give meds, I'm sure it won't hurt anything. Just make sure the chick is warm and has food and water. I think it's a good choice to separate. Sometimes the other chicks will pick on the ones that aren't doing well. I hope you chick feels better.