Listless chick. Sick or just sleepy?

[cindyanne1]

One of my week and a half old RIR chicks was acting odd today. I had taken all 8 of the little 'uns out on the lawn, and all of them except that RIR seemed to enjoy themselves immensely. The RIR just sat with her eyes closed and her wings drooping.

I picked her up... her crop felt firm and rounded but not overly distended... I felt a few other chicks' crops and theirs felt the same, so I don't think it's impacted crop. She did poo while we were out and the poo looked fine.

She kind of acted like she was hurt somehow and didn't want to move.

She seems okay, but just has no energy. She's also doesn't seem to be as big as the others, although she's feathering out at the same rate. She doesn't feel as heavy in my hand as the other chicks do.

Any ideas as to what I can do?

 

[NotTheMomma]

Hmmm, drinking enough? Maybe offer a bit of sugar water to boost it's energy so that it will feel like drinking and eating OK. Though you said the crop was full, so it's eating. Ugh! I'm not sure.

SOmetimes one is just weaker than the rest. You could try givign it some vitamins and see if that helps as well.

Bumping for some experts to pipe in!

 

[rancher hicks]

If it's eating and drinking that's good. Put it by itself with food and water and in the dark for a couple of days. Not real dark, let it get some rest. Some times I think they just can't get any sleep. Eating and drinking and pooping good signs. Might try a little vanilla yogurt with an eye dropper, can't hurt.

 

[sammi]

watch for any sneezing or wheezing..

maybe some vitamins to perk it up..chick vitamins or Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, Enfamil brand if possible, no iron..2 drops on beak once a day, then 1 drop or a week..

if you can divide the brooder and separate the chick for a few hours with food and water..make sure the chick is warm.
watch for any change in droppings, or behavior, or other symptoms.
post back.

do you have any meds on hand just in case? (cocci or other)

 

[cindyanne1]

Thank you, everyone!

The chick is doing okay today. Not really any better, but not any worse. She does eat and drink... no sneezing, no trouble breathing, no trying to regurgitate, etc. But she just sits with her eyes half-shut and her wings drooping most of the time unless something interests her. Like just now when I checked she was sitting there like that and a fly landed next to her. She perked up and tried to peck the fly... it flew away, and she settled back down in that half-asleep looking position.