Please tell me I'm overreacting

[LuvinMyPeeps]

Can you put her in with one other chick so she won't be lonely?

 

[Airilith]

Well doesn't that defeat the purpose of seperating her? How do I pick who I'd want to get sick with her? Hmmm well if she's still kinda dumpy in the morning, I'll have to get her a buddy I guess. Or is that too long for her to be alone?

 

[redhen]

Put a small stuffed animal in with her..or a rolled up sock..for comfort..

 

[chookchick]

Airilith--make a little cage out of hardware cloth in the corner of the brooder so she can be with her buddies! yet still be protected. Have one part near the light, and one part cooler so she can pick what she needs. I would also get her a featherduster. I did this with my little runt and she perked up in a couple of days. I have to go back and read the original issue...

OOps! if it could be a disease issue, then you have to keep her separated. I would take the advice of Guinea Goonie (love that name!) and put one other chick in with her. It is a risk, but I think the stress of loneliness can bring them down.

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

Quote:
I know it seems silly, but if she's peeping you may have to do it if the stuffed animals don't work.

The body does strange things when someone is sick and lonely...

 

[Airilith]

Quote:
I know it seems silly, but if she's peeping you may have to do it if the stuffed animals don't work.

The body does strange things when someone is sick and lonely...

I definitely believe this! She perked up for a little bit when I managed to get 1 drop of polyvisol in her. Apparently she likes Guinness the 60lb lab X shepard cross. Haha! If she looks anymore distressed in the next hour I'm gonna go get her a buddy. At least if I get one of the other chicks to eat and drink she might follow suit. Or do y'all think I should get her until morning to adjust?

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

I sure don't want to advise you to 'sacrifice' your other chick to get sick too, but I'll be honest. If it were me, I'd give her another chick to cuddle up with tonight. The other one will encourage her to eat and drink and act as 'normal' as possible.

It sounds like you're doing everything you can for her - that was sweet to buy her a scarf. What a good mommy you are. She's very lucky to have you.

 

[Airilith]

Ok this is definitely a noobie question, but I have to ask ...

If separating her is stressing her, and she's been with her little friends since day 1, is there really a reason to have her by herself? If this is contagious wouldn't the others have been exposed to it anyway?

I don't know. I'm just trying to figure out what to do. I don't want to upset her, and have her die just because she's stressed. But if she's really posing a danger to the others, than I am really gonna have a hard time picking a buddy for her.

To be honest, there's a large part of me that want to put her back with her friends just so that she's happy. *sigh*

EDITED TO ADD: Well she had a bowel movement and it looks 100% normal, so at least that's good.

 

[LuvinMyPeeps]

Quote:
I know, it's so hard isn't it!

Many diseases/illnesses can spread, and sometimes some of the chicks will get it and others will build an immunity and not show any symptoms and others may not get it at all. It depends on what you're dealing with. There are a million different things it could be and some start to present with similar symptoms but then change symptoms or more will develop. If you don't separate asap, by the time you figure out what you're dealing with it can be too late for your flock. To be safe I always separate with a buddy unless they're old enough to keep by themselves. I definitely would not put her back with the group just incase. Not to sound callous, but do you have any 'feelings' about which might be a roo for her buddy? (Can you tell I'm overrun with roos right now?

LOL

 

[Airilith]

Lol! I know who the roos are, but only b/c I ordered them that way.

Well I took her out and held her for a while. We watched a little tv, and she took a nap. Then I gave her a few drops of water, just to make sure she'd had some. When I put her back in the tank, I dipped her beak in the water and put her right down in the feed dish. She pecked around for a lil, but didn't eat anything, climbed all over the water dish, and is now declaring her loneliness (I knew I would be wishing for quiet again). So at least she's alert. I'm starting to wonder if perhaps the other chicks weren't letting her sleep for long enough, and she was making up for lost time for the first few hours here.

At least I know she's definitely warm enough, has enough vitamins, and has had some water. I think that will get her through the night. Then I'll see where she is tomorrow. Can you tell I'm putting off the decision making? I just don't think I can sacrifice another chick. If she seems a bit better in the morning and just lonely then I'll get her a buddy. Otherwise she'll have to make due with this two legger buddy, and her new buddy Guinness (who she just adores; Guinness sat for 15 mins with her head right next to the chick's, who I was holding in my hand). I wish I could have gotten a picture of that.

PS - I just plopped her down in the scarf, waited a few minutes, and now she's stopped chirping and looks likes she's considering going to sleep again. Phew! I hope she has sweet, sweet dreams.