sick chick

[Zookeeper9000]

Sammi thank you so much for trying to help me with this baby. I have read about stunting and and had a feeling that might be it. I figured if not that then maybe the bedding. I really feel that this baby will be gone by morning and I am just sick about it. I feel so frustrated and I am sure everyone on this board can relate to that feeling because I am not and will not be the first to lose a chick. But to happen so fast and just have to watch it makes me sick. To have gotten this baby to 3 weeks and then to just watch it go down hill so fast with nothing I try working makes me mad and helpless at the same time.

Thank you both again for your help

 

[dlhunicorn]

when you suspect dehydration always use electrolytes particularly if you see they are panting. give a a lukewarm temperature.
If this bird got chilled that will complicate matters considerably ... always warm a chilled bird up before attempting to rehydrate.
(((hugs)))

 

[Zookeeper9000]

Thanks I read your other posts on Durvet and am on my way this morning to get it. No I am pretty sure she/he didn't get a chill as I keep it warm in the house and I keep the chicks in a draft free brooder (rubbermaid) in a draft free room. This little one is still here and was drinking on it's own this morning. But don't want to walk or move much and not eating even when trying to hand feed. I am going to get the electro's and I also was wondering if I should pick up some oxy-mycin 10 powder, I am picking it up anyway but was wondering if I should try it with this little one. I figure it can't hurt to have it on hand. I am really begining to believe there is something stuck somewhere, because of how she/he acts when she is drinking hard to explain and can't take a vidio, will swallow the drops from the side of the beak and then after just a few drops will stretch neck almost like she/he is gagging. I have opened the beak as far as I can and moved the tounge around and see nothing, the mouth is nice and pink so I don't think she/he is bleeding (does that work the same as puppies about the white gums). I am giving a few drops of oil on the side of the beak, like I do the water in the hopes if it is some pine shavings then the oil will help move it along. Thanks again

 

[Zookeeper9000]

This baby is still here and I am still doing the water oil vits and electro's waiting on advice about the oxy-mycin 10 I picked some up and was told 1/4 teaspoon per gallon of water. Hope someone lets me know if they think this might help I don't want to over medicate so will wait till I get advice on this one.

This baby stands on it's hocks not always flat to the ground on them but not high up either and the head is kept down. The breathing isn't so desparate at this moment but that has changed before as well. I can't find anything on the net that describes this. I am exhausted and frustrated that I can't just make this baby all better.

Thanks again for any and all help

 

[sammi]

I would not mix the antibiotic with the electrolytes.
just give the electros for now.

 

[brahma-momma]

i have a two week old light brama that is or was doing exactly like you say your baby is doing. even though the crop didnt feel like it had anything in it after gently messaging the crop i felt something in it like pieces of grit i mixed about a cup of water to 1 tsp. of sugar and put some on a spoon an held it to the chicks bill it drank very small amounts at a time then i would gently message its crawl rubbing downward untill the crawl emptied about an hour later the lil gal was up and eating on her own she is still a little weak acting but i think she is pulling out of it. i hope this helps you and good luck.

 

[sammi]

if the chick is sitting on it's hocks..
this is a symptom of a lack of Vitamin B complex..
and electrolytes.
most likely due to the chick not eating, or because of an absorption problem..
(which could be part of the stunting syndrome, if that's the problem)

give the electrolytes by drops on beak..and try and get some Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins (Enfamil brand, no iron)..2 drops on beak, once a day for at least a week..then taper off...and try to get some chick vitamins.

is the chick able to swallow any better?
is it able to eat?

 

[Zookeeper9000]

I lost this baby this morning at about 5 am. I had been giving the baby vits once a day 3 drops at side of beak, had the electro in the water giving every 20 min around the clock at side of beak, and was also giving a couple of drops of oil 2 x's a day at side of beak. This chick was born healthy but at about 1 week I noticed she/he wasn't growing like the other four, they are about 5 times the size that this baby was. This is my first loss out of 65 chicks and I sure am heart heavy over it. I do know that I tried everything that I could think of or was told to try, sometimes ya just can't turn it around.

One of my brothers ( I am still upset with all 7 of them) stopped in and gave me a big hug and took a look and said jean there was no saving that chick, it stopped growing the old timers call that fading chick and if it wouldn't of died now you would of had problems with it for the rest of it's life, ya know nature knows what is best.

I guess he is right but I am still upset with all my brothers over the line it is just a chick if it dies it dies. I will forgive him though as he is my favorite out of the 7 and he did care enough about me to drive 2 hours this morning to give me a hug.

Thanks again for all your help and for caring. I sure learned a lot thru this experiance and have a very good head start on my chicken first aid kit, I am also going to get my notes together for a chicken first aid manual to go with it. In searching for ideas to try I found some great advice for all kinds of injuries and problems.

Thanks jean