Sick Chick Not Eating

[gfcm]

I noticed right off the bat when I got all my chicks that this one and her sister (Columbian Wyandottes) weren't doing well. After some research, I had decided they had failure to thrive. The sister is doing fine now. The sick one was eating, drinking, pooping okay; just sleeping a lot. Now she doesn't seem to be eating or drinking. I've brought her in the house and am keeping an eye on her. Is there anything I can do to help her? Her feathers don't look right today, either. Kind of ruffled and yucky looking. I got them on April 12th and they were about a week old. She hasn't grown much at all.

 

[Nicole01]

Buy some poly vi sol vitamins without iron. They are infant vitamins. I also give probios(probiotics) in the water for the first 6 weeks. The vitamins help quite a bit. Good luck.

Maybe you could try a hard boiled egg yolk. I add grit/sand when I give this.

 

[gfcm]

I did the hard boiled egg yolk and she ate a little. Where do you purchase the polyvisol? Walgreens? Is it the same as you would give infants? Thank you for the tip about no iron. I wouldn't have known that! I have a dropper to use, but I'm kind of afraid to do this. I wouldn't want her to aspirate it!

 

[Nicole01]

I'm sure Walgreens carry the polyvisol vitamins, yes, infant vitamins. I put 1ml in 4 cups water. I have a 4/5 week old chick with a respitory infection and I put 2 drops in her beak twice a day along with the treated water. I thought my SS was a goner for sure, but she survived.

 

[gfcm]

Thank you so much for the support Nicole01! Oh, I'm not sure about the probiotics either?

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:
I bought the probios on amazon.com. I use 1/4 tsp to 4 cups water. I've used this since day one and very happy with it. It's the same as giving them yogurt.

 

[gfcm]

Do you have the brand name, by chance? I know nothing about them!

 

[Nicole01]

I use probios. You can use it on any of your pets when they are sick as well.

 

[gfcm]

Thank you very much for your help and quick responses!!

 

[Nicole01]

Quote:
No problem.

It's been a very stressful chick week with my Maple. I put her in with my second set of chicks due to only having one heat lamp. No one else got sick, luckily. I learned a lot this past week and now I have a whole shelf full of emergency supplies including antibiotics.