- Sep 12, 2013
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Reposted from the Raising Baby Chicks forum
I have a three-week old Salmon Faverolle chick named Cotton who is definitely a runt. She's barely bigger than when she was only a day or two old. Until today she was still running around eating, drinking and cheeping up a storm. Now, though, she's lethargic, doing that really distressing sway thing and unable to stand unsupported. I've separated her from the rest of my chicks, all of whom are doing great and are getting so big. I've been getting her to drink water with some Nutridrench in it, and gave her direct Nutridrench earlier today. I was able to get the tiniest bit of yogurt into her, but she's not eating at all on her own. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. Is there anything else I can do???
I have read up on runts and I understand that their mortality rate is fairly high, and that there's likely some genetic or other underlying health issue, but I really don't want to lose another chick. (I lost one the first day and one about a week ago. The first looked poorly from the moment they arrived. The other seemed fine until the day before she died and she perked up that afternoon so I thought she'd just been sleepy or something. Then I went downstairs the next morning and she was gone.) I just want to do everything in my power to bring her through it if possible.
Thank you in advance for any advice!
Follow up (I was asked if I'd checked her for pasty butt and if she'd pooped):
She does not currently have pasty butt, though she had it at least twice the first week or so. She's pooped quite a bit since this morning five or six times, though none in the last hour. At first it was normal looking poop, but now it's nearly all water. Considering that she hasn't eaten all morning, I'm not surprised. I did scramble an egg for her, but can't get her to eat it, and she won't let me get any more yogurt in her, either. She seems a little stronger, and occasionally she gets noisy again, but mostly she's staying huddled against the wall of the box into which I moved her. It doesn't seem to be heat related (i.e. she's not moving towards or away from the heat lamp).
Follow up #2: I did get a little more Nutridrench and even a bite or two of scrambled egg into her. She's mostly sleeping and every once in a while she'll wake up and cheep loudly again before falling asleep. She seems to be slightly better at balance and standing, with less swaying, but still nothing like she was yesterday. I really don't think she's out of the woods and I'd really love to help her get better! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
I have a three-week old Salmon Faverolle chick named Cotton who is definitely a runt. She's barely bigger than when she was only a day or two old. Until today she was still running around eating, drinking and cheeping up a storm. Now, though, she's lethargic, doing that really distressing sway thing and unable to stand unsupported. I've separated her from the rest of my chicks, all of whom are doing great and are getting so big. I've been getting her to drink water with some Nutridrench in it, and gave her direct Nutridrench earlier today. I was able to get the tiniest bit of yogurt into her, but she's not eating at all on her own. I'm afraid I'm going to lose her. Is there anything else I can do???
I have read up on runts and I understand that their mortality rate is fairly high, and that there's likely some genetic or other underlying health issue, but I really don't want to lose another chick. (I lost one the first day and one about a week ago. The first looked poorly from the moment they arrived. The other seemed fine until the day before she died and she perked up that afternoon so I thought she'd just been sleepy or something. Then I went downstairs the next morning and she was gone.) I just want to do everything in my power to bring her through it if possible.
Thank you in advance for any advice!
Follow up (I was asked if I'd checked her for pasty butt and if she'd pooped):
She does not currently have pasty butt, though she had it at least twice the first week or so. She's pooped quite a bit since this morning five or six times, though none in the last hour. At first it was normal looking poop, but now it's nearly all water. Considering that she hasn't eaten all morning, I'm not surprised. I did scramble an egg for her, but can't get her to eat it, and she won't let me get any more yogurt in her, either. She seems a little stronger, and occasionally she gets noisy again, but mostly she's staying huddled against the wall of the box into which I moved her. It doesn't seem to be heat related (i.e. she's not moving towards or away from the heat lamp).
Follow up #2: I did get a little more Nutridrench and even a bite or two of scrambled egg into her. She's mostly sleeping and every once in a while she'll wake up and cheep loudly again before falling asleep. She seems to be slightly better at balance and standing, with less swaying, but still nothing like she was yesterday. I really don't think she's out of the woods and I'd really love to help her get better! Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
