Please help sick chick!

[New2chickchicks]

Hi there, I got a batch of MPC hatchery chicks on Monday. I gave them to my broody silkie Monday night and everything has been great. I have them in a pen inside the coop but they can get out under the nest boxes. my other 3 chickens were out free ranging and the momma silkie decided it was time to take the babies to the run. All but 4 chicks made it down the run, 3 were standing at the top chirping and 1 of the 2 d'uccles was laying on its side in the pen. I took her out and brought her inside. She falls asleep every 5 seconds, and instantly falls asleep if you pick her up.I put some probiotics in the water and she is drinking, I made her some scrambled eggs but when I try to feed her she just falls asleep in my hand, I have not seen her eat. She can stand and is currently standing asleep in the plate of eggs but she is not sturdy, if I try to pet her she tips over. I will post a pic, her stance is definitely wide but I have not seen her walk to see if she has spraddle leg. She puts her wing out to balance when I pet her. Not sure what is wrong. Of course this is my daughters favorite chick so we are praying she makes it. All the other chicks seem healthy and happily running around in the run with their adoptive momma.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Did you make sure they ate and drank before you gave them to the hen? Chicks and ramps is a bad mix for about 2-3 weeks, so hopefully you can keep them all together so they don't end up in trouble.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

Give her a good nights rest away from flock. Make sure she drinks and eats. Maybe some electro light/sugar mixture. I have some growgel and it has both.

 

[New2chickchicks]

I did feed them all and have them drink before giving to hen, they came in at 7am and I kept them until the night. Our silkie is a wonderful momma and she has adopted chicks successfully 2 other times. We have an outdoor gazebo bar that we use as a ramp for chicks. It is metal with little grooves in it that provide traction and the chicks can easily get up and down the ramp, the sick chick was still inside the gated area when we found her and don't think she ever made it out of the ramp. We did go to tractor supply and there was a vet clinic going on. I asked the vet about her and she did not think it looked good and thinks she was probably born with something congenital, the vet gave her some of the nutridense while there but said she would probably not make it through the night. She died a few hours later. Thanks for all the help and advice, this is good information to have on hand if I ever come across this in the future. Thanks again.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

So sorry you lost it. Glad you had a vet willing to give advice. Unfortunately not all make it. Sometimes bantams have troubles with the shipping process. Sorry.

 

[Dr.GarryTTucker]

I’m sorry you lost the chick.