Please HELP, PLEASE!

[werttyy]

Hi everyone,
I am heartbroken right now. My favorite chick 1.5 week old, and a silver laced wayandotte is acting very strange. Before (since 3 days ago), she has always been chirping really loudly. Every other chicks is perfectly content with the brooder, but it is only her that chirps 24/7. Her chirps don't sound like the chirps of her friends, which sound like happy chirps. Her's sounds more destressed. I'm so scared right now because she is sometimes rocking back and forth, she doesn't use her wings for balance much (it looks awkward but not broken), and currently, she is having trouble standing up. She may be too tired because she sometimes falls down and sits down. Two things happened to her, one, our dog touched her with his paw (but this didn't hurt her at least not visibly, but she may be traumatized by the experience), and two, once when I changed the food, she was standing on it and I accidently flipped her over and it took a long time for her to get back up. Also right now, she is usually all alone and chirping. At first, we thought that she might've just missed her family but now I can tell something is wrong. I don't think that she has poopy butt, but I'm scared to pick her up and check because she appears so weak. I can't really tell if shes eating or drinking. I saw that she was just standing though. And it might've taken some strength for her to just stand. Please help me. I don't know what else to do. I can't stand to see her suffer, and I can't live with myself if she dies. I'm so scared. Might this be just a stage? WHAT IS GOING ON?? HOW CAN I HELP HER?? I doubt it because this has happened ever since. Well I'm pretty sure that she was healthy when we got her. She is so precious. PLEASE I BEG YOU ALL, HELP ME!

 

[retiredwithchicks]

Have you checked for pasty butt? Clogged vent so can't excrete waste.

 

[Sorin]

Hello, I'm not sure if I can help but I will try. First of all, make sure she is eating and pooping. Watch her for at least 15 to 20 minutes to check if shes eating, at that age they wont go very long without food. If she is not eating try mixing some food with a little water to make a paste and hand feed, you may have to rub a little on her beak to get her started. You need to pick her up and check the vent and make sure it's not blocked. If she still won't eat, try and make some sugar water, 1 teaspoon of sugar per quart of water and try to get her to drink. Also, try and post some pics so that others more experienced with this can maybe help you more. But definitely check for pasty butt. I hope someone else can help you more. Also, stop duplicating this thread.

 

[NottinghamChicks]

A picture may be helpful. You need to pick her up and feel her crop, and check her butt. You also need to get a medicine dropper and feed her electrolytes. Keep trying. Did you notice her eating and drinking prior to her exhausted state? It sounds as though the tumble affected her. Things happen, people step on their chicks, crush them with feeders, etc. She may have already had an issue that showed itself now due to her little tumble. But right now whe needs electrolytes and you need to determine if she is obstructed at one end or the other and then perhaps people can help you try to fix her.

 

[sweetpeachicks]

Sorry to hear your chick is chirping in distress-and I know how that sounds. It is high pitched and meant to be heard. I have two silver-laced wyandottes that are just 9days old, purchased in a group of 6 chicks from a local feed store. Of these six, the two speckled sussex chicks did what you describe in terms of chirping until I finally got the heat lamp on them, and food to them and water. This happened during the transfer home and into their cage. At first, those two didn't stop, but after about 30min, they warmed up and fell asleep. If I were you, I would call the place/person you got them from and give them the info...Was the chick happy for days and then started this? Did she come from a mama or was she from a hatchery? Does she react to your hand(can she see?) Is she under the heat lamp or is she cold? That chirping definitely means something isn't right. Just have to figure out what it is....Is she drinking or eating anything? I know it is scary when something like this is going on. That kind of chirping also sends me running to see what is wrong. After all, we are the surrogate mama hen....
If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know. But I think you must pick her up and take a good close look at her. I have not raised a lot of chicks, but it's amazing they survive all these things that can go wrong! It really sounds like she is weak, so try to help her get food into her mouth, and dip her beak into the water to see if she will drink .
Hang in there.

 

[werttyy]

She died. I want to scream or something. I'm so sad...

 

[Sorin]

I'm so sorry to hear that

I had one die on me last week, it sad

 

[tstilwell]

Sorry for your loss, that really sucks.

 

[Saroco]

I'm so sorry! That is so hard....

 

[sweetpeachicks]

I am sorry to hear about the chickie not making it. Not knowing the cause of the problem is almost as bad as the feelings of helplessness isn't it? You may never know what caused the death, but it might be worth asking some questions to the person you got the chicks from. Are the other little ones acting OK?
It's really tough to lose any of your chicks, but why does it always seem to be the favorite one?? I have experienced this twice now in the last 8 months(they were taken-not sick), and it never gets easier for me. But I'd rather know the joy of that closeness even if it is unexpectedly short-lived than to never know it at all. The special ones always steal my heart first, and nothing will change that. When you have that special fear-less cutie, enjoy them while you've got them-it might be years, but you just never know.
With Sympathies