Please help! mopey loner pullet

[LizaBlue]

16 chicks arrived 4/12, and despite this being our first bunch they all seem to be doing well except for one. For 4 days or more, this pullet has been hanging off to one side and tries to sleep or just ignore all the rest. If you pick it up, it fusses just a second, doesn't fight, then settles down like it was never moved. It does seem a bit smaller than the others. We started the chicks in tubs, but now they are in a tent in our garage (long story) with pine shavings and heat lamps, etc. and they've been outside less than 6 times. In addition to starter, they have occassionally been given chick grit (in small doses), mealworms, craneflies, earthworms, about a tbs. of grated apple, a chunk of banana, and some wheat toast as treats. Mopey doesn't seem to care about anything, and just seems minorly annoyed when the other chicks go on a frenzy playing keep away with a new treat and run over her. I just moved her into a cat crate lined with paper towels tonight to protect her, make her easily accessable, and verify she is using the bathroom. Also to make sure she has access to food and water in case she is getting bullied, although I have only seen her pecked at a little, and only in a mild possibly friendly way. I sat the crate back in the tent so she could see and hear the others and not be so freaked about being alone. The rest of the chicks seem to be the picture of normality: curious, hungry, sleeping often but keenly aware when I approach.

I know it's normal to lose some chickies, but I just don't think I could stand it right now. Any ideas on my moody loner?

 

[TigerLilly]

All I can give is empathy & a

. Does she seem to be drinking? How old is she?

 

[LizaBlue]

18 days old, idk if she eats, drinks, or poops - hopefully in the morning I will know more. I just checked on her and she is sleeping in her food bowl, next to the cage door. Hubby is going to boil some eggs for her tonight and I'm going to cook her some cornbread tomorrow. I read about forcing water and I think I may do that. Hate to stress her, but have to make sure she is drinking at least!

 

[LizaBlue]

Mopey does poop, eat, and since I forced her some water with Sonic's syrup in it (no sugar at our house) she drinks. She falls asleep doing it, but she does it. She also ate a crane fly for hubbie (eventually, after he left) and showed a little interest in the cat food strips on my finger. She falls asleep doing it, but she does it. Unfortunately, we've also discovered she sneezes and snores/wheezes in her sleep. Thinking brooder pneumonia? gonna check around on the forum, but thought I would update.

Tip if you ever have to force water with a syringe: holding baby gently against you wrapped in a washcloth, lean its head to the side with thumb so that beak lays against your fingers. gently press syringe against bottom beak and they kinda just naturally open, or just let a drop fall on the side of closed beak and they will just open and then you can squirt a little more in. Reminded me of how you give eye drops to kids - you can't force them to open their eyes for the dropper, but put drops on their closed eyes and they will open eventually!