Sick Chick! (picture of setup added)

[Graidyn]

So..... my husband brought home 8 straight run bantam babies yesterday. I should NOT have let him go to tractor supply. We already have chicks coming the end of April and that is how we were going to start our flock but he saw these little guys and apparently his heart melted. So..... building the coop is on high drive now (and will be quite a bit bigger than planned now because - more chickens).

He whipped up a wonderful brooder in record time. It's ginormous for these little guys and they're having a fantastic time running all around, eating and drinking well, very content little babies. The hottest part is 93-95 and the coolest part is 73-75. The hang out mostly in the high 80's part, are not sleeping piled, are not picking at each other, etc. 4 of them did have (very minor) pasty butt this morning, but we got them all cleaned up and dried and they are happy as can be. Except for one.

This one little guy seems very lethargic, the others peck at him when they're near him or run right over top of him. He doesn't move around very much and I can't seem to get him to eat or drink. He did have the worst of the pasty butt, but it wasn't bad at all based on my searches for it. They have clean water and medicated starter food. I fully realize that I may lose one or two, it's just the way things go, but is there anything else I can do for him? Thank you for your help!

*ETA: He also pooped in hubby's hand after I got him all cleaned up and it was like water Literally like clear water. None of the other babies have poop like this.

 

[Graidyn]

Also, this is their set up ....

The plexiglass at this end is just laying there so my dog (who has decided she is their mama) can't drool on them. The front is blocked so the only place she can check on them is at this end. No, she doesn't want to eat them, she's just a Leonberger and they drool, lol. The brooder is in my sewing room, which is off of the dining room (where our woodstove is). They have 2 thermometers which I have the readers for in the dining room so they are easily seen at any time.

Oh, and they only huddled over there because I accidentally knocked into the brooder on my way in and they spazzed.

 

[Eggcessive]

Chicks from feed stores and the ones we get shipped in the mail can suffer from shipping stress from dehydration, cold exposure, and rough handling. Pasty butt is a sign, as well as the lethargy. Right away, I would get some electrolyte water into the chick by dipping it’s beak into water. Poultry NutriDrench is a good product to boost them right away if you give a couple of drops. Since the chick is already showing signs, it could be too late, but I hope that you can save it. Check for repeat pasty butt daily until they are about 10 days old.

With buying straight run chicks, you are probably going to decide what to do with your extra cockerels.

 

[Graidyn]

Chicks from feed stores and the ones we get shipped in the mail can suffer from shipping stress from dehydration, cold exposure, and rough handling. Pasty butt is a sign, as well as the lethargy. Right away, I would get some electrolyte water into the chick by dipping it’s beak into water. Poultry NutriDrench is a good product to boost them right away if you give a couple of drops. Since the chick is already showing signs, it could be too late, but I hope that you can save it. Check for repeat pasty butt daily until they are about 10 days old.

With buying straight run chicks, you are probably going to decide what to do with your extra cockerels.

Yes, I checked them last night and they were fine, then this morning a few had it. Planning to check twice a day so they won't sit that way too long. I have save a chick and the probiotics but it said they had to have that AND a plain water source so hubs is on his way home now with another waterer so I can mix those up. He seems a bit perkier now so I'm hopeful. He did drink a little and the others have stopped pecking at him. And he is staying with the others more. Still not as active as the others but more active than he was. I'm really hoping!

Yeah, we know they'll probably mostly be cockerels and will cull them if they prove to be problematic.

 

[Graidyn]

Update : Got the electrolytes and probiotics in the new water dish, cleared a tiny bit more pasty butt this afternoon and now he is indistinguishable from the other chicks. They are ALL running all over the place, eating and drinking, pecking at their litter, chirping happily and having a fantastic time. Here's hoping he stays that way!

 

[Eggcessive]

Glad to hear he is more active, and that they are all very active. Good luck.