Sick Chick

[Wyorp Rock]

Kelloggs sadly died due to the fact he ate something too big for him and it got stuck in his throat. We couldn't get it out in time.

I realised just before seeing your comment that it IS the crop. It's getting weaker and weaker, it's not able to even stand now. No, it hasn't had grit. We have been making our own crumb,

It's literally putting its head right down, til it's beak is at its feet and falling. It almost seems paralyzed from the neck down

the chick will be two weeks old on Thursday, and the feed we were mixing was oats, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and dried split peas, grinded up.

I think I may have found what it might be: Avian Encephalomyelitis. Very similar symptoms

It could be Avian Encephalomyelitis, you never know, but with the other chick eating something too big and dying and this chick having a large crop, I would lean toward it having an impacted crop and possibly malnutrition.

Do you have any Poultry Nutri-Drench? If you do, give it 1-2 drops each day. Try to get your chick hydrated before you even try to get food into it. You can give the chick water 1 drop at a time dripped at the front of the beak, giving the chick time to take the water in, being careful to keep her upright so she doesn't inhale the water. Massage the crop-how does it feel? If it's hard or full, gently massage it in a downward motion 3-4times a day. Hopefully you can break up what's in there. The mix you gave may have been very hard to digest or may have the chick backed up. While some people do have sand available for their flock, imho, it is always best to just get the right thing (crushed granite) that way there is no question as to whether what is offered is sufficient.

Keep her warm, at 2 wks she probably needs around 80-85F but watch that she does not overheat.

If you are unable to get your chick hydrated, she declines further or she seems to be in pain it would be a kindness to end her suffering.

 

[Salamander1914]

Thank you.
I have been trying to drip water onto her beak. I've been cuddling her all day. Trying to get her to sleep because she seems very worn out. She's eaten egg, because of the vitamin E in it and some proper chick crumb as well as a tiny bit of bread soaked in water to try and hydrate her. I did try yoghurt, and kefir, but not much. If its a fungal infection maybe some garlic in the water might help?
Thanks for your time, I really hope this fluffball lives.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you.
I have been trying to drip water onto her beak. I've been cuddling her all day. Trying to get her to sleep because she seems very worn out. She's eaten egg, because of the vitamin E in it and some proper chick crumb as well as a tiny bit of bread soaked in water to try and hydrate her. I did try yoghurt, and kefir, but not much. If its a fungal infection maybe some garlic in the water might help?
Thanks for your time, I really hope this fluffball lives.

Your doing all you can for her

It's good that she will eat a little. You can also try wetting the chick starter to make it into a mash, she might like that. Egg is good too.

 

[Salamander1914]

Thanks again. Last night we were so tired we couldn't have stayed up and hugged her all night, and although we did have a heat lamp, since she isn't drinking by herself we thought it would dry her out. In the end I left her with the hen for an hour to see if she'd be alright, I propped her head up on a small ridge of hay underneath her, and came back an hour later. She was still alive, cheeping like mad so we left her under her last night. Shes still alive but not quite as lively today. I doubt she got much sleep last night.

 

[Salamander1914]

As for the impacted crop, it's seems fine, and also we have been very careful since the other one died.

 

[Salamander1914]

Just to update, I got her/him out a fair bit today because she seems happier outside. She definitely perked up to the point where she even ran a little, when the mother called her.
She's still eating, and we're managing to get some water down her.
She is still rolling, but not quite as much.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just to update, I got her/him out a fair bit today because she seems happier outside. She definitely perked up to the point where she even ran a little, when the mother called her.
She's still eating, and we're managing to get some water down her.
She is still rolling, but not quite as much.

I'm glad to hear she is perkier

I would still continue with giving poultry vitamins or you can give Vitamin E (400IU daily) along with 1/4 tablet human B-Complex vitamins. The egg is great for Selenium so you have that already going.

I hope she continues to improve, please keep us posted.

 

[Salamander1914]

Today I went out to check on her and she was upright, not rolling around, although still looking a bit wobbly. We brought her inside to feed her and she has only rolled a couple of times, and has managed to get up herself, rather than carry on rolling like before.
We gave her egg because of the vitamin e and selenium, I don't know what it is for sure, maybe it's wry neck or maybe it's AE but either way egg shouldn't hurt her. I'll have a look for the B complex vitamins.

Now she keeps flying off the table and onto our laps... Honestly, she's going to be an interesting chicken.

 

[Salamander1914]

Just wanted to say she's almost back to normal. She's currently eating her breakfast with my broody hen. Finally found out how to get a photo haha.
Thanks a lot for your help, everyone.

 

[Salamander1914]

She looks ill in that because her eyes were shut but it's just because she blinked as I took the photo