Sick chick

[Elizabethd]

I just got a chick last weekend and she is very friendly but it seems she sleeps all the time. I'm not sure of her age or breed. She does eat and drink water but just randomly falls to sleep and I don't know if I should be worried or not. When I got her I found she did have lice so I have treated her for that. I bought the poultry dust not sure how often I should treat her to make sure they are gone. I'm new to most of this and could use some help. I have attached a picture.

 

[Eggcessive]

Welcome to BYC. Your picture did not come through, but after you make about 10 posts on BYC you should be able to post pics. Lice should be treated every 10 days (mites every 7 days) but the coop needs to be cleaned out and treated with permethrin spray or sevin dust also. Chicks can get coccidiosis very commonly, and especially after coming to new soil with different strains of cocci. Corid or amprollium 2 tsp per gallon of water given for 5 days would treat that, and treating all chicks at the same time is best. Don't delay in treatment because the disease moves fast. Symptoms are lethargy, puffed up or hunching, poor appetite, and diarrhea, sometimes but not always with blood. If you can't get the medicine now, give her some buttermilk or milk soaked into some bread. Di-Methox or Sulmet can also be used if Corid is not available.

 

[Elizabethd]

Thank you.... For the insight I will b e picking up the med. tomorrow morning. Also should I keep her separated while I medicate her? I also just got some baby chickens and bought chick feed can I feed them that or should I buy them the medicated feed?

 

[Eggcessive]

Will the baby chicks be inside a brooder or out in the coop? She needs to be apart from the new chicks, but if she has some her own age, they should be left together and treated all at once. I don't use medicated feed, but many use a small "preventative dose" of Corid just as their chicks go on soil. This dose is 1/3 of the treatment dosage, and is given for 5 days. It can be repeated every 3 weeks, or if symptoms start, then switch to the full dose. You can use the medicated feed as well, but just recognize the symptoms because it is still possible to get it on medicated feed. Corid comes in powder or liquid when you look for it tomorrow. The powder dose is 1.5 tsp per gallon, while the liquid is 2 tsp per gallon.

 

[Elizabethd]

The baby chicks are inside a brooder and I have her by herself because I haven't put her wit the other one I have raised (the same age ) because I wasn't sure if I should or not with her having the lice and and other problem. Should I put them together now and just treat both???

 

[Eggcessive]

No I would wait until her treatment is finished. Here is some reading about it: http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[Elizabethd]

Thank you again.... I have a lot to learn about these little guys.