Sick chick?

[horseemom]

I have one Buff laced Polish chick about 2 months old, and yesterday she was fluffed and not running much. Today she was the same and I can just pick her up with out her trying to scamper. She is skinny breastbone is not meaty on each side like the others? What to do? Put her back on starter? Is it a disease?

 

[dlhunicorn]

Did you have her on medicated feed? Has she been free ranging? (might be mites and if free ranging you might consider worming her with ivomec Eprinex)
When polish are in a mixed group they are often at the bottom of the "pecking order" ... separate her and provide a general supplement to her feed such as AviaCharge 2000 wihich is available online from McMurry or Strombergs. In addition to that I would concentrate her nutrition by adding baby parrot handfeeding formula to it for a couple weeks (petstore) and offer her live culture (unflavored) yogurt free choice.

 

[horseemom]

She is not on Medicated feed, came from a hatchery so was vaccinated, haven't seen mites, but the silkies had them before. I will try dusting her and the food (and the rest of the chicks/pullets) with DE today. She is only in with 5 chicks her age and all polish, the free range silkies are in the same coop, but divided with mesh.

A few days ago I noticed one of the 2 buffs I have jumping up and running crazy, totally wacky!? Maybe mites bugging her? Not sure if it was the same bird?

I will take her out today and bring her in. Check her for mites, OH, I was thinking LICE?

What do mites look like and how do I treat those? Maybe I should take a fecal to the vet for a gram stain?

I will try to plump her up though. That is my main concern.

 

[77horses]

aw so sorry about your chickie.

I have no idea what it could be that's making her sick...?
But I have some bad news; we had a 2-3 week old buff cochin chick, who seemed not as active as her older sister. She started perking up after a few days, but then, my dad noticed she wasn't eating. Her crop was empty and her chest was bony, and she seemed tired and just sat there. My dad put her in a separate box, with food, water, and heat. He nursed her for 2 hours, dipping her beak in the water and feeding her the chick starter feed. She seemed to get better, but later that day, she died.

This may be bad for your chickie, since ours was acting the same way, and she died. I really hope yours is OK and she makes it. Good luck!

 

[horseemom]

Well as the day goes on she seems to be perking up. She is in the house (in a cage

) and slept a lot this morning, but has been eating and drinking like it is going out of style! I gave her some mealworms this afternoon and she ate them with vigor (first treat ever!) I am hoping she is on the road to recovery. I will keep her in until she can hold her own out there

How do I check for mites?

 

[buckyphifer]

I was searching and came across your post. If you chicken is really fluffed up and her head is fluffy looking as well, she probably has cocci. I experienced this with my chickens earlier in the year and lost several before I was able to diagnose. If this sounds like what is going on with your chicken you need to medicate immediately the whole flock; it is fatal if not treated. You can get the meds from co-op and put it in their water. It is called Sulmet. Good luck!

 

[horseemom]

Well she is a polish, so her head is always fluffy

The rest of the flock seems fine, droppings look normal? We don't have a Co-op, but I can ask around?