Sick Chic

[tarajz]

I have a three week old baby chic that is ill. She was one of ten that we purchased, and we have her separated from the others so that she doesn't contaminate them in some way.

She has not grown at all, and stumbles around like she is drunk. She is off balance, doesn't work her wings very well, and her legs seem to slide out from underneath her at times and not go where she wants them to go. She is still eating and drinking.

I'm not sure what to do here. When it's warm enough that the rest of the chics can go outside into the hen house, if I put her in with the rest, I think they will peck her to death. But I can't continue to keep her inside for the rest of her life, either.

Any suggestions? I'm hoping she dies on her own so we don't have to make any decisions, but I'm not sure how long I should hang on here.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I have seen ones like that that don't thrive.

They don't make it from my experience. I am sorry. If they are simply smaller than the others, they tend to be OK, but when they are acting off that is different.

Of course chicks are susceptible to coccidiosis, but in a case of failure to thrive when they start stumbling it has meant the end is near in my experience. Just try to keep the little one warm and comfortable is what I would do.

If she recovers and starts to act normally you can always take one of the other chicks and put in with her for a bit so she makes a friend, so she isn't alone in the world when you reintegrate her, with no friends.