Sick Baby Chick :(

[sarahnicole]

I purchased three chicks (my first) last week so they are exactly week old. They are all Ameraucanas and are as cute as can be! Mine is named Willa, and my sisters' are Pipsqueak and Pepper. Yesterday I came home around noon and Willa was looking terribly sick. She was in the corner on her stomach wheezing and coughing. She wasn't eating much and won't drink. I have been spoon-feeding her water and dipping her beak every 45ish minutes, even at night, and having her drink at least one spoonful each time. She is acting very lethargic and rarely moves. She is chirping every time she breathes and is panting heavily with her mouth open. Her wings are drooping and she feels very weak when I pick her up compared to the other chicks. She doesn't even attempt to run when I reach for her in the brooder. I have checked the temperature (at 90 degrees) and she is not pasted up. I don't know what to do! There is Sav-a-Chick in their water, but it only promotes digestive health. I have called four veterinary clinics today and none of them know what to do! Please help! Thank you ahead of time.

 

[MercyMe03]

Try giving her a little bit of sugar water to see if she perks up a little bit. Do you have her seperated from the other chicks? Does she have any kind of nasal discharge? She may have a respirtory infection. You may also want to post this in the Emergency/Diseases forum and see if someone else may be able to also help you out.

 

[melina90]

Sometimes, baby chicks just go weak and die appearantly for no reason (of course there is a reason, but it can be very hard to figure out).

I had a few hedemora chickens hatch last month, and one of them became very weak and sick. I fed it boiled eggyolk, and gave it sugary water with a few drops of apple-cider-vinegar. Usually chickens who act like this dies pretty fast, but this one actually perked up and is now almost a month old, running around with the others!

So you do your best, and hopefully the little one will make it. If not, don't beat yourself up about it. Good luck!

 

[Eggcessive]

Many chicks are stressed during shipping especially to feedstores, since deliveries sometimes aren't done in a timely fashion (either the post office or clerks at the feed store.) A small percentage of chicks die from this stress. Give the electrolte/vitamin mix to all of your chicks, and check the others well.

 

[sarahnicole]

I have started her on sugar water. She has been drinking more and even eating a little bit! After I hand feed her, all she wants to do is sit in my lap. There is no nasal discharge at all, but she does peep every time she breathes. My father went to a local feed store and found some antibiotics that should help, so I'll treat all three chicks starting tonight. I'll post this to the Emergency/Diseases forum, too. I was wondering what egg yolk and apple cider vinegar does? I think Willa is slowly feeling better. Her breathing is less labored than yesterday. I'll try the antibiotics first, and add electrolytes when those are done. Thank you everyone!

 

[8675309j]

We had one who came to us that had a bit of a twitch after about 3 days of cleaning her vent she had similar symptoms and passed away in my hands. But she went quickly after she had the symptoms. Keep up with her hopefully she will pull through. I hope so! Your doing all you can!

 

[sarahnicole]

Thank you everyone for getting back to me! Willa passed away two Thursdays ago and I have not been able to get online since. We got her Duramycin, but it was too late. The others were treated as a precaution for one week and are doing fine.... they have almost doubled in size within the last six days, have most of their feathers, and are even beginning to fly! I will be getting two new babies at the fair on Wednesday. Once again thank you everyone!

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Thank you everyone for getting back to me! Willa passed away two Thursdays ago and I have not been able to get online since. We got her Duramycin, but it was too late. The others were treated as a precaution for one week and are doing fine.... they have almost doubled in size within the last six days, have most of their feathers, and are even beginning to fly! I will be getting two new babies at the fair on Wednesday. Once again thank you everyone!

I'm sorry!