Need help with my weak chick!!! How long to give polyvisol????

[cjeanean]

One of my chicks is acting a little weak, and I need to know how much polyvisol to give her. I just gave her some water with terramyacin and now I'm going for vitamins. Please help!!!

 

[SeaChick]

we used Polyvisol without iron... and gave just a drop or two alongside the beak.

 

[Enchanted Sunrise Farms]

i know nothing about polyvisol, but did a search and found this thread:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?pid=618021#p618021

Post #8 provides pretty good detail.

Good luck!

 

[cjeanean]

how long did u give it to her??? how long did it take the chick to improve??? Is there anything you can suggest for a weak chick??? I don't want to lose her!!!

 

[SeaChick]

I think that keeping her hydrated is the #1 thing, short-term. WE did this by dribbling water alongside the beak using an eye-dropper or baby-medicine-syringe. They swallow a little, usually. Also keep her warm. After that, keep her nourished. Have you tried making a nice thin warm gruel from warm water and chick starter? or plain, organic yogurt?

Best of luck to you, I know how hard it is to be nursing a little sick chick!

 

[cjeanean]

I'm cooking some oatmeal and chick starter right now, and I gave her 2 drops of iron free baby vitamins and a little water with terramyacin. Does it sound like I did it right???? I don't get what's going on, this one is just weak I hope it doesn't have the McMurray sickness!!! Any more advice??? Thanks everyone!!!

 

[hinkjc]

How old is your chick? Was it shipped? We need more info before you start pumping lots of stuff in the little one. I would not give terramycin at all. It is an antibiotic and should only be used when illness is confirmed. I would recommend assessing the condition further to determine why it is weak. Does the chick have pasty butt? Could it be too cold/hot? What brooder materials are being used? Any other chicks affected? Once we figure some of this stuff out, we can determine a method of helping. Let us know what we can do to help.

Jody

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
Okay, then no more terramyacin. She's very weak, not very active at all, leaning against the other chicks for support, and sleeping quite a bit. NONE of the other chicks are affected. This chick was shipped from McMurray, it's my free rare chick, and I really want her to live!! I think she's a white faced black spanish, and I will be so sad if I lose her!!! No pasty butt, and the brooder is warm enough, I made sure. I have pine shavings in the bottom, and the chicks were put on paper towels in the beginning to make sure they didn't eat the shavings, and in the past week I've been seeing this chick eat the chick starter. Umm, when I tried giving it the water and vitamins it was still pretty tough and did struggle, so it's not just a dead lump.....anything else I should mention????

 

[hinkjc]

All of your responses are exactly what I thought they would be. The primary driver..shipped chick. Early mortality on shipped chicks is not uncommon. Something you can do to help those that have a tougher time overcoming the stress - vitamins and electrolytes in the water. You can get a bag of this at just about any feed store or TSC. Made by Durvet, in a yellow label bag. The mixture will depend on the type you get. Post if you're not sure how to mix.

In the meantime, mix up some sugar water to see if you can jump start your weak one. Dip her beak in the waterer or dribble some droplets on the side of beak to get her to take some. Hard boiled egg yolk is a good starter food with extra protein as well. I hope she pulls through for you.

Jody

 

[pixiechick]

Ditto on the eggs. Let us know how she is doing.