Sick Baby

[shelbylouise]

I just got 17 chickens from Ace Hardware today. When we got home, we noticed that one of our Buff Rocks wasn't eating or drinking and kinda of just laying in one spot. When I pick her up she'll chirp a bit then when I put her down she'll walk a few steps and then slowly lay down. We then seperated her into a chick infirmary by herself. I've been giving about 1 mL of sugar water with electolytes every hour and a half. She'll perk up a little bit and then she's back to her wobbly self. She's started scratching at her eyes and rubbing her beak on everything. I have another chicken in with her because when she's alone she chips loudly. Should I take her out so she doesn't get sick too? Why is my chicken not eating and drinking? Why is she scratching at her eyes? Please help me. I've already had a chicken die on me yesterday from a seperate batch.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! Sorry about your sick chick. You might want to post in the Emergencies forum about her https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures
It sounds like you are doing the right thing, separate her so she doesn't get picked on and make sure she is eating and drinking, (make sure she has 95* heat also), if the chicks came from the same place/ have been together, you might as well leave the one in with her as a friend as long as it is not picking on her.
Can you see anything on her eyes/beak that is causing a problem? (maybe post pictures if you can in case someone else sees something)
Unfortunately it may just be from shipping, shipping is hard on chicks and some chicks don't handle the stress well, it is not uncommon to lose a number of them even on normal shipments, the occasional chick may also have something wrong with it that we can't see.

 

[drumstick diva]

Have you checked her for mites or lice around her head? My first thought is maybe she is allergic to something and that's why she rubs her face. Can you tell if she has anything stuck in her throat, or any bites on wounds on her face.

 

[shelbylouise]

I did post in the other forum. She has no mites or lice. Right now she is on newpaper and then shredded paper. I think she is starting to break skin where she is scratching. It's about 3-5 mm behind her eye. I don't know what to do

 

[BantamFan4Life]

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!

 

[fat betty]

Electric lights are good just keep on doing what you are doing if she keeps on scratching maybe take a wet paper towel and wipe her face and bracket with it maybe she has something that is bothering her on it and or change out her bedding with chicks you never really know they're really hard to know what is wrong with them

 

[shelbylouise]

last night i put her with the other 19 chicks i have and she was very happy to have friends! THEN SHE STARTED DRINKING WATER. i was pretty excited. she was looking good this morning. im leaving for state FFA now and she is in the care of my very loving dad.

 

[abgraves69]

Glad she's perking up!