Sick chick?

[Tom908]

I have a new batch of 4 chicks wich are being hand raised. There about a week old. 3 of them seem fine but the forth is actting strange. It lies down all the time and has to be fed by hand, it is breathing heavily and chirps loudly, it may be ill. What do i do?

 

[dlhunicorn]

make sure you first dribble water along its beak so it does not become dehydrated.
Are you giving med starter?

 

[silkiechicken]

Welcome!

What kind of litter are they on? What are they being fed, temps, so on? Since they are about a week old, it is still possible to have chicks "fail to thrive" so don't take it too hard if keeping it warm, feeding it, and keeping it hydrated doesn't work.

 

[Tom908]

Yeah i have kept it hydrated, they are on pine litter and their kept warm. Their on chick starter feed, but i don't know the exact feed... should i seperate the chick?

 

[dlhunicorn]

please make the effort to see if the feed is medicated or not...if not it might have cocci which is very common and very serious ....yes I would separate because the other chicks may start to peck at it.

 

[Tom908]

I have seperted the chick. I only got them this morning as i wasn't the one who hatched them but the feed they were on was medicated. It's realy weak and can't stand now

.

 

[Tom908]

It was walking around at lunch... but now it dosn't look like it's gonna survive

 

[Tom908]

Chicky died during the night, but at only a week it's not suprising. Thanks for your help anyway.

 

[silkiechicken]

Sorry, it happens to them sometimes no matter what we try. Best of luck with the rest!

 

[Tom908]

yeah, but luckely the other 3 have been succefuly adopted by a hen during the night.