my chick is very tired

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

My 6 week old chick is tired and isnt prticipating in all the fun things with her sisters. When she walks, she is very slow and sometimes even stands up to sleep. Everytime i go to check on the chicks the one is either watching her sisters or sleeping. It has been very hot the past couple days so we moved the coop into the shade. The place where we moved them had stinging nettles around the area but none that we saw where we moved the coop. We may have bypassed some though. All help will be GREATLY appriciated.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Lethargy is often the first visible sign of coccidiosis and at 6 weeks old they are very prone to it. I'd treat them all with a course of Corid immediately. The nettles shouldn't be a problem. We are infested with nettle here and though we stay on top of it pretty well there is always some to be found but the chickens leave it alone.

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

Can I buy corid at feed stores? How do you give it to them?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Yes, you should be able to find it at a farm store - it comes in powder or liquid and is mixed into the drinking water - if you don't see it, ask. Generally it is in the large animal (ie bovine) medicine section. If a bird is so depressed that they are not eating/drinking a sufficient amount to receive a good dose on their own from the water it may be necessary to dropper feed water until the bird bounces back enough to start consuming normally on their own.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Have you inspected her for external parasites (mites)? Are you familiar with internal parasites and the signs of their presence? A parasite load can take a bird down to this point pretty quickly as they are literally sucking the life right out of your bird.

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

I've been holding her and stroking her but I haven't seen anything.

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

This is her




BTW her name is flockheart

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

I've given her some hard boiled egg and took her out into the sun to sun bathe (their coop is in the shade) so she's a bit more active.

 

[SILKIEOBESSESED]

I mixed in some of their old medicated feed to their regular food this morning and now Flockheart isn't very tired, just a bit slow every now and then. She has proven that to me by chasing down and eating a bee. Should I still give her corid?

 

[Eggcessive]

I mixed in some of their old medicated feed to their regular food this morning and now Flockheart isn't very tired, just a bit slow every now and then. She has proven that to me by chasing down and eating a bee. Should I still give her corid?

Medicated feed will not treat an active coccidia infection. Your chick may have it or not, but treating with Corid needs to be started soon if you think she has the signs: lethargy, ruffled feather, puffing up or huddling posture, diarrhea with or without blood, and poor appetite. Here is a good link to read about how long birds are sick with cocci before showing symptoms, and then it can be too late to go buy the Corid (which doesn't harm the chicks, and all need to be treated): http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex4616