Odd behavior in 4 week old chick...Please help!

[Chicken.Chick]

Hello!

I have a 4 week old Golden Comet that spends most of her time sitting in a corner, tail up and feathers full and has for about 5 days. I have spent hours searching the forums for similar questions, but only found two-and they were from years ago. Details below:

*She prefers to stay under the heat lamp-hence the orange hue on the pictures-but does move about
*Eating, drinking and pooping normal
*Sits with tail up and neck in-all the time
*Feed is Starter/grower 20%-non medicated
*Brooder is kept clean and food and water is changed at least twice a day and is inside
*No other chicks showing any signs of illness/lethargy
*I have looked over her--no sores, no bleeding, no lice and no worms in her poop. Although, her butt looks bare to me. I've included a picture of her butt


What I am doing or trying:

*She gets hand spooned sugar water twice a day-she's OK with it...not "going after it", though
*Corid in water for 4 days---vitamins and electrolytes for a day before that
*She is separated in a brooder from the others her size- she is with 2 smaller/younger chicks

I'm at a loss of what to do for her next! She does not seem miserable...she sleeps, but not all the time. She is alert and walks to get food and water-even sits on the roosting bar in the brooder. I just want to make sure I am doing all I can for her. Should I just wait and see???

Thank you, in advance, for any help or similar situations and their outcome!

Chicken.Chick

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What temperature is she at? Sounds hot to me. Looks old enough to not necessarily need any heat over 65-70.

 

[Chicken.Chick]

What temperature is she at? Sounds hot to me. Looks old enough to not necessarily need any heat over 65-70.

Its about 80* and I agree....but she chooses to be under the light...its odd

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sometimes chicks get attached to their heat lamp because it's a substitute mom. I would start weaning her off it, and see how she behaves. Removing the heat or lowering it should help her to feather up more.

There's always a chance there's something wrong internally, those with birth defects will often die in the first month or so.

 

[Chicken.Chick]

Sometimes chicks get attached to their heat lamp because it's a substitute mom. I would start weaning her off it, and see how she behaves. Removing the heat or lowering it should help her to feather up more.

There's always a chance there's something wrong internally, those with birth defects will often die in the first month or so.

Thank you! I will try weaning the light and see what happens

 

[Wyorp Rock]

4 week old Golden Comet that spends most of her time sitting in a corner, tail up and feathers full and has for about 5 days.

She prefers to stay under the heat lamp-hence the orange hue on the pictures-but does move about
*Eating, drinking and pooping normal
*Sits with tail up and neck in-all the time

Corid in water for 4 days---vitamins and electrolytes for a day before that

Can you post some photos of the chick and her vent without the red light?
Photos of her most recent poops would be good too
You treated with Corid-what dosage?

If she is actively eating/drinking - is there a reason for spoon feeding the sugar water?

The symptoms of sitting in the corner, tail up, fluffed up with head pulled in - I would be inclined to either re-treat with Corid or at least take a sample of poop for testing. If she had vitamins during the course of treatment, there's a possibility that the extra Thiamine counteracted the effects of the Amprolium.

Can she see the other chicks?

 

[Chicken.Chick]

I'll get on this when I get home form work! Thanks for helping!

 

[Chicken.Chick]

Can you post some photos of the chick and her vent without the red light?
Photos of her most recent poops would be good too
You treated with Corid-what dosage?

If she is actively eating/drinking - is there a reason for spoon feeding the sugar water?

The symptoms of sitting in the corner, tail up, fluffed up with head pulled in - I would be inclined to either re-treat with Corid or at least take a sample of poop for testing. If she had vitamins during the course of treatment, there's a possibility that the extra Thiamine counteracted the effects of the Amprolium.

Can she see the other chicks?

Corid dosage was 2 tsp per gallon of water for 5 days. I’m at day 4

Pictures are Uploaded without the heat lamp.

Sugar water was suggested in another thread for a little boost of energy

The vitamins and electrolytes were given before the Corid, not at the same time

Yes she can see the other chicks

Thank you!!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She's a cutie!
Poop to me looks normal. The vent is bare, but that can also be normal, I do see some pin feathers coming in, so I would just watch that. Otherwise, she looks like she's feathering in nicely.

I do have a question or 3 In the photo below, she is sitting with her tail to the side-not a biggie, but does she ever hold it to the side like that when walking?
Also, she is with a couple of smaller/younger chicks - does she stay under the heat even if those chicks are roaming around, or is it just when they are under the heat?

One more - you mention that she can see the others her age - you have a barrier - is the heat lamp next to the barrier - is she staying there so she can see the chicks her age?

Just trying to type out what comes to mind - in the most recent photos she does not "look" ill, so the behavior she is exhibiting is puzzling. It could very well be that she is attached to the light as @oldhenlikesdogs mentioned.

I would finish up with the Corid - it's mild and not harmful.
Thank you for taking the photos

 

[Chicken.Chick]

She's a cutie!
Poop to me looks normal. The vent is bare, but that can also be normal, I do see some pin feathers coming in, so I would just watch that. Otherwise, she looks like she's feathering in nicely.

I do have a question or 3 In the photo below, she is sitting with her tail to the side-not a biggie, but does she ever hold it to the side like that when walking?
Also, she is with a couple of smaller/younger chicks - does she stay under the heat even if those chicks are roaming around, or is it just when they are under the heat?

One more - you mention that she can see the others her age - you have a barrier - is the heat lamp next to the barrier - is she staying there so she can see the chicks her age?

Just trying to type out what comes to mind - in the most recent photos she does not "look" ill, so the behavior she is exhibiting is puzzling. It could very well be that she is attached to the light as @oldhenlikesdogs mentioned.

I would finish up with the Corid - it's mild and not harmful.
Thank you for taking the photos

Thanks for the reply!

I'm more than happy to watch her pin feathers, but what am I watching for? lol

She almost always sits sideways like that, but she seems to me, to walk fine. I'll be able to spend some time with her over the weekend and if that changes-I'll post about it here.

She stays under the heat all the time...even if the smaller/younger chicks are not. Based on your question, I rearranged the brooders this morning putting the heat light at the other end and she promptly got up and walked to the heated spot, and was still there when I left for work. So, I don't think she is in the heat to be closer to the other chicks her age! The chicks she is with are an Easter Egger that seemed to not be growing as fast as the others and a new chick that TSC gave me when I went in asking for help with the sick one, thinking she would pass. Great customer service!

I think I'm going to put her back in the larger brooder with the chicks her age tomorrow and watch her...see what happens. I originally removed her because she was lethargic and not running around like the others. That leaves the runt (Brownie) and the new chick (Peanut) in the smaller brooder. I'll go purchase another new chick to be a companion for Peanut this weekend. The more the merrier!!

Today is the last day for Corid, so we will see what happens!

Thank you again for your help!!