Sick 4 week old Polish

[CatWhisperer]

I have 7 4-week old polish chicks that have been raised with 5 same age guinea keets. (I didn’t have room to raise separate). One Polish has been a poor doer since delivery by USPS-almost dead on arrival. It is the smallest and only half the size of the largest 4. I have been taking the chicks outdoors to a cage on grass for the past week. This afternoon I noticed this chick was very listless. I thought it might be the heat so I brought it and a companion indoors. I ground up some pumpkin seeds and boiled egg and pored some strawberry kefir over it and topped with a few mealworms- no interest. The chicks last poop was mostly white urates, it feels very thin and has a soft full crop. It’s head and wings are droopy. I finished prophylactically treating with Corid a week ago. They get ACV in their water and have been eating 28% protein game starter because of the Guineas needs.
I am at a loss as to how to help this chick. Could such a young chick have crop stasis from the grass? I have never experienced or treated this. Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you’re my only hope.

 

[Eggcessive]

The chick may have some intestinal damage from coccidiosis or be a runt. Did you have chick grit available during and after when they were out on grass? If not there may be some grass in the crop that has not been digested. I would stop the ACV since it is an irritant to the sick intestines, and is not good for chicks. I would offer the cooked egg and wet chick feed with a little plain yogurt, buttermilk, or the kefir. If the game feed is whole grains, I would get some chick starter.

 

[TwoChicksChix]

It could also be the high protein, chicks shouldn’t have protein that’s much higher than 20-22% because it can cause intestinal issues.

If it’s crop is full but you don’t notice it eating, I’d make sure that it doesn’t have an impacted crop.

 

[CatWhisperer]

The chick may have some intestinal damage from coccidiosis or be a runt. Did you have chick grit available during and after when they were out on grass? If not there may be some grass in the crop that has not been digested. I would stop the ACV since it is an irritant to the sick intestines, and is not good for chicks. I would offer the cooked egg and wet chick feed with a little plain yogurt, buttermilk, or the kefir. If the game feed is whole grains, I would get some chick starter.

Coccidiosis treatment was prophylactic. They have had gri intermittently. Game feed is crumbles.

 

[CatWhisperer]

It could also be the high protein, chicks shouldn’t have protein that’s much higher than 20-22% because it can cause intestinal issues.

If it’s crop is full but you don’t notice it eating, I’d make sure that it doesn’t have an impacted crop.

Crop is full but soft. I have been feeding other chicks the game feed also, have never read anything about intestinal issues. I can only imagine kidney issues in older birds. What kind of intestinal issues do I need to look out for?

 

[TwoChicksChix]

His issue is probably related to an impacted crop.

Certain chickens can’t have certain feeds because it affects them differently. Such as silkies shouldn’t be fed medicated chick feed because they can’t absorb all the vitamins and it can cause wry neck in them.

Or how ducks can’t have bread because it bulks up in their stomachs making them feel full and keeping them from eating good nutritious food.

Higher protein can lead to them eating less food than they need to because the protein makes them think they’re satisfied. Thus they miss out on some of the vitamins and nutrients they need.

 

[CatWhisperer]

All chicks now have soft full crop. This chick is very thin and depressed. Won’t eat or drink. I syringed him a tiny bit of yogurt and nutridrench.