losing a chick! Help!!!

[learning]

This is my first time raising chickens and I think I am losing one. I've thought I was losing one ever since I got them - my husband thinks I'm crazy. But this time, I don't think it's chicken hypochondria.

I have a dozen straight-run chicks in four varieties. They are nearly 8 weeks old. They spent the first 6 weeks of life in a box in my basement eating medicated chicken starter rations. Two weeks ago, we moved them to a new, insulated coop (10x10). I've been putting electrolytes in the water ever since then. A few days after moving them in, I started them on a handful of scratch twice a day, along with their food and water. I've been mixing grit in the feed. I use pine shavings as litter. The last bag I bought was wet, and had a thin green ribbon running through it. I assumed it was mold and tossed the green parts out, but still used some of the dry, clean looking litter from that bag.

One of my barred rocks is not well. I noticed it today at around noon. They were outside of the coop in the yard for only the second time in their lives. The other 11 were exloring and having fun, this one just laid down and closed its eyes. Even when one of my goat kids sniffed it, it just sat there, looking at it. I went out again this evening around 5 o'clock and it still was very lethargic. I even think its comb looks dry and droopy, but that could be my imagination. It's not eating or drinking, just laying and looking puffy and breathing slowly. I moved it out of the coop, away from the others. It's in my kitchen in a box at the moment. I haven't heard a single peep from it. It hasn't pooped since I noticed it was sick, so I dont' know what it's poop looks like.

I keep saying "it" because I can't really tell the genders very well, but I think this one is a cockrel. That brings up another issue. I will probably cull all the males anyway. Do I go to great lengths to get this bird well and risk the health of the rest of my flock, or do I just cull him now. Also, should I try to figure out what's wrong with him an case it will affect the others?

 

[card5640]

I would stop feeding them that feed and the scratch. Electrolytes are not needed as a preventative measure. Try feeding them some wet feed of the first type you gave them, add some warm water so its really wet. Good Luck

 

[PunkinPeep]

yes, i would want to know what is making him sick so that you can prevent it - or recognize it - if one of the others gets sick the same way.

let us know when you see it poop - that may tell the whole story.

good luck.

 

[learning]

Okay, I finally got him to drink some water and about a half hour later, he pooped. Very small, certainly diarrhea. The first one was dark, spruce green. The second little one was light tan colored. There was no sign of blood in either one. Any ideas?

 

[Chicken Rustler]

Well I am new to all of this too but I recently had a 9 week old with the symptoms you describe. At the advice of the very fine people here @ BYC I began treating for Cocci and we are now at day 3
(of 5) and showing good signs of improvement. I know there is still a chance my chick may not make it but I have high hopes now.

Thanks to my BYC chicken buddies.

 

[PunkinPeep]

has he perked up any since he pooped?

 

[learning]

No. I'm so upset. He was dead when I went in this morning. Now I have three chickens in the coop who take a few steps, then drop to the ground, roll on their sides, and stretch out their legs. Then, they get up, pick at their wings, take a few steps and do it all again. I'm beside myself! I have a call into the vet. Hopefully we can save my flock! I just don't know what I did wrong.

 

[Judy]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=167227

Hope this helps.

 

[California Ducken]

Do you have a dusting box for them to dust bathe in?

Have you checked for mites?

Mine roll all over the ground and stretch out their legs. They also love to bask in the sun. They find the best spot it takes awhile sometimes. They roll on their sides stretch out one or both legs and a wing lay their heads down on the ground.


Good Luck! I'm sorry to hear about your chickie.