need some advice for my sick chick

[betty105]

I can't find anything here that relates to my chick's issue. She laid a largish egg last week Monday and ever since she has been cooing and butt pulsing, staying constantly in the nest box. I gave her a calcium tablet and she perked up a bit. we bring her out of the next box, and when we do she walks around like normal picking and scratching in the back yard, eating the corm, worms and bird seed we give to all the chicks. I put some egg shells and oyster shell down near where the treats are on the ground. She even pecked at the watermelon rind. But then right back into the nest box trying to lay an egg. We've been giving her calcium tabs every day and soaking in epsom salts, but no change. I don't feel a stuck egg inside and her butt has been clean and normal this whole time. She's losing weigh and I don't think she's getting any sleep. When I pick her up for the pill her underside is warmer than usual, i think. There are no wounds anywhere and her eyes are fine Help!! I'm loosing her!! She's and Ice cream Bar chick and lays those beautiful green eggs

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Could she be broody?

 

[betty105]

Could she be broody?

thank you for your reply! she hasn't laid an egg for a week, that doesn't seem to fit the other threads about broody chicks?

 

[Eggcessive]

Broodies usually peck at your hand if they are in a nest box, they may have missing feathers on their chest and abdomen, they run around clucking with tail feathers pointed up, they have huge smelly poops, and they may return to the nest after you remove them. If you place an egg or golf all within reach, they will pull it under them.

 

[betty105]

ty! I don't recall missing feathers but I will check. I have 3 laying chicks, including her, so sometimes there are eggs in there that the other two have laid, which I remove If it is broodieness, what can I do?

 

[betty105]

Broodies usually peck at your hand if they are in a nest box, they may have missing feathers on their chest and abdomen, they run around clucking with tail feathers pointed up, they have huge smelly poops, and they may return to the nest after you remove them. If you place an egg or golf all within reach, they will pull it under them.

 

[betty105]

Thanks so much for replying. I've read many other posts about broody chicks and I've put her off in a cage by herself in the backyard with food and water. not sure when the broodyness will be over but I'll keep her in there until it's over