Please help!!!

[Cam63oc]

I have a month old chick (doesn't seem like he's growing much) I'm not sure what kind he is because I found him in a hole after hearing him cry out. He drinks water and eats food normally. But randomly he keeps flopping over and opening his mouth like he is gasping for air. After it happens he stands up wobbles for a second and then goes back to normal. He gasps for air when I touch the part where chickens have food (the food pouch thing) It's happen three times today and I haven't found anything online. I'm not sure what is wrong or what to do my family doesn't want to take him to a vet because they don't want to waste money on a chicken. (I dis agree)

 

[Eggcessive]

Try to get the chick drinking some water with SaveAChick electrolytes, or get some Poultry NutriDrench, and give 1 ml daily. Is there any food in the crop? Is it having runny poops? Coccidiosis could be a possibility that could be treated with Corid in the water. Since you found him, is he your only chick? He could be just a weak chick if he has been like this for a while. What type of feed do you give him? Has he been under a heat lamp since he was little?

 

[micstrachan]

He needs a heat source. Does he have one?

 

[Abriana]

Poor guy! Will be praying!

 

[Cam63oc]

I'm getting him a heat source today. I usually keep my room heated in the 80s. He does have food in his pouch and it hasn't gone down so I have taken his food away as of today. He's drinking water normally. He is the only chick I have because his mom must have left him when he fell in the hole(none of my chickens have babies right now so I don't know where he came from). I do need to buy him specific food for baby chickens because I've been grinding up the bigger chicken food and giving it to him. I will get the electro light water, his specific food, and his heat source. I am partly to blame because I should have been looking up what a baby chicks need sooner and I feel terrible for not doing so. I will however get everything he needs now that I know. If there are any more tips you guys can give me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

 

[Eggcessive]

Go to Tractor Supply or another feed store and buy a brooder lamp, and some lamp bulbs. If you have a heating pas tonight, you can use it on low to help keep him warm. Google Mama heating pad for a good idea for brooding.

 

[Cam63oc]

I got him a heat lamp, poultry starter and grower, and electrolight water. He is loving the heat lamp and his crop is flat now so I gave him some of the poultry food and now he looks like he's having a hard time getting his food down or something when he eats he sticks his neck up shakes his head and opens his mouth is this normal? It's like he's twitching or has the hiccups (even though i don't think chickens can get hiccups?) He only started this when he ate the food.

 

[AmazingRachel]

Heat lamp, chick feed, and electrolytes are what it needs (supportive care). It might be just stressed and cold from being in a hole.
I agree that it looks very stunted, looks 2 weeks old to me. I had a chick like that (a splash Barnevelder), a bit slow in development but he turned out fine in the end.
Also, I'm pretty sure it's a Welsummer chick or *maybe* an easter egger.

 

[Cam63oc]

I just noticed he has bugs on him they kind of look like fleas how can I get rid of these? Also after a couple minutes of him doing the head twitch it is gone and he's walking around like nothing happen.

 

[AmazingRachel]

I just noticed he has bugs on him they kind of look like fleas how can I get rid of these? Also after a couple minutes of him doing the head twitch it is gone and he's walking around like nothing happen.

They are probably mites. Try rubbing the chick in diatomaceous earth a couple times a day. I also believe that their are sprays available but I'm not familiar with them.