Sick Chick

[cheeseheadken]

So, my first post here since I got chickens - but I have three pullets from the feed store that were shipped in yesterday morning. The (hatchery) araucauna has seemed wimpy from when I picked her up, sleeping all the time, tipsy, doesn't run around, etc. She walks every know and then, but the other chicks are all over eating, drinking, pecking, etc. I've cleaned dried poop around her vent twice, she's clear now. Came home from work and she was sacked out on her side breathing deep and quick. Brooder temp is at 95, and again, the other chicks are fine. I've made sure she drank sugar water a couple times today, and saw her peck at some food when I was cleaning her. I've put a little polyvisol on the side of her beak (she was not happy about that). Will not eat wet mash.

Is there anything else I can try? should I put the poor girl out of her misery? Water was changed this morning. Is this just a weak chick that isn't going to survive shipping?

 

[dawg53]

I believe you've done everything you can do to get her going. If there isnt any improvement soon, it may be a case of failure to thrive. You would have to make the decision whether to cull her or not.

 

[cheeseheadken]

Thanks - just wanted to make sure i wasn't missing something. She did just take some more sugar water from an infant medicine syringe, so we'll giver her a little bit longer and see if she perks up before culling her.

 

[cheeseheadken]

just saw she has some thick, bloody ooze coming from her vent. Anything i can do for that, or time to let her go?

 

[dawg53]

Sounds like cocci. You need to get her started on corid immediately, she could die in less than 96 hours. Corid 9.6% liquid solution can be found in the cattle section at your feed store. Dosage is 9.5cc's per gallon of water. Put it in their waterers for all of them to drink. You'll probably have to use an eyedropper to give it to the sick chick, about 5-6 times a day to make sure she gets an effective amount. Dribble a few drops at a time. Dont shoot it down her throat, it could go into the windpipe and she could aspirate.