Sick chicks

[Llpeters26]

I had 4 day old chicks that I gave to a broody hen, she is one of my tried and true moms and does a wonderful job raising chicks. They were doing great for the first 3 days until yesterday. All the chicks are lethargic and not eating or drinking. They kept their eyes closed all day and wings kind of away from their bodies. Momma has been trying to call them to the food and water and the many times I was checking on them yesterday they never came to her. I have been dipping their beaks in a mixture of yolk and honey and making sure they are getting water. I have a fan pointed in to the run since we live in Texas they are separated from my free range flock. If anyone has any insights on what could be going on it would be SO greatly appreciated! TIA

 

[TOMTE]

What are your temps? It could be the heat. Can you give them sav-a-chick or other electrolytes? That truly can be a life saver.

How are their poops? What kind of feed are they on? What's your setup like? Can you post pics of your setup and the chicks?

 

[azygous]

It could be coccidiosis. Do you have Corid on hand? If so start them on it.

You really have not provided any information other than your chicks are sick, so this isn't a diagnosis. The incubation period for coccidiosis is around seven days, so if the chicks have been with the broody for seven days, then this lends credence to it being coccidiosis.

Heat is also a factor. Chicks cannot withstand temperature extremes because they have no insulation from feathers. So care must be given to provide electrolytes and to mitigate the effects of the heat. I like to empty several trays of ice cubes into a shallow pan and let my chickens scratch in them. That cools their bodies and they drink the cold melt water. You can also dampen the soil in their run and they lie in the cooler parts to exchange excess body heat for cool.

 

[Llpeters26]

What are your temps? It could be the heat. Can you give them sav-a-chick or other electrolytes? That truly can be a life saver.

How are their poops? What kind of feed are they on? What's your setup like? Can you post pics of your setup and the chicks?

Temps are in the mid 90s , they are on medicated starter feed, they are in one of the tractor supply coops with a run attached. Poop is watery and no pasty butt. I had to order more electrolytes since every farm store in a 50 mile radius is out. They have frozen water bottles to climb on. They have only been with the hen for 4 days

 

[TOMTE]

Temps are in the mid 90s , they are on medicated starter feed, they are in one of the tractor supply coops with a run attached. Poop is watery and no pasty butt. I had to order more electrolytes since every farm store in a 50 mile radius is out. They have frozen water bottles to climb on. They have only been with the hen for 4 days

Watery poops are pretty normal in summer when birds drink a lot more. But if they're not drinking and they have watery poops, that makes me think it could be parasites, possibly coccidiosis like @azygous said.

I've read that certain medicated feeds can block nutrient absorption, or something like that. But I don't remember where I read it so I have no source. Might be something to look into.

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of fresh water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large container or waterer.
Stir until fully dissolved.
Offer to chickens for 1–3 days during periods of stress or extreme heat.
Always provide plain water alongside the electrolyte mix.

 

[Llpeters26]

Watery poops are pretty normal in summer when birds drink a lot more. But if they're not drinking and they have watery poops, that makes me think it could be parasites, possibly coccidiosis like @azygous said.

I've read that certain medicated feeds can block nutrient absorption, or something like that. But I don't remember where I read it so I have no source. Might be something to look into.

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of fresh water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large container or waterer.
Stir until fully dissolved.
Offer to chickens for 1–3 days during periods of stress or extreme heat.
Always provide plain water alongside the electrolyte mix.

I had the electrolyte sent overnight so it just went in a waterer. I really hope this helps. I don’t see any signs of coccidiosis in the coop which they were previously in. I’m attaching a few pics and videos if that helps

Watery poops are pretty normal in summer when birds drink a lot more. But if they're not drinking and they have watery poops, that makes me think it could be parasites, possibly coccidiosis like @azygous said.

I've read that certain medicated feeds can block nutrient absorption, or something like that. But I don't remember where I read it so I have no source. Might be something to look into.

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of fresh water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large container or waterer.
Stir until fully dissolved.
Offer to chickens for 1–3 days during periods of stress or extreme heat.
Always provide plain water alongside the electrolyte mix.

Watery poops are pretty normal in summer when birds drink a lot more. But if they're not drinking and they have watery poops, that makes me think it could be parasites, possibly coccidiosis like @azygous said.

I've read that certain medicated feeds can block nutrient absorption, or something like that. But I don't remember where I read it so I have no source. Might be something to look into.

You can make your own electrolyte solution:

Ingredients:

1 gallon of fresh water

1 tablespoon sugar

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a large container or waterer.
Stir until fully dissolved.
Offer to chickens for 1–3 days during periods of stress or extreme heat.
Always provide plain water alongside the electrolyte mix.

I had the electrolytes sent overnight and just got it in their water. I hope it helps. I wondered if it was the heat since at night it still been in the high 80s here. I’ll attach a picture of one of the chicks. I either can’t post a video or just can’t figure out how

 

[TOMTE]

I had the electrolyte sent overnight so it just went in a waterer. I really hope this helps. I don’t see any signs of coccidiosis in the coop which they were previously in. I’m attaching a few pics and videos if that helps



I had the electrolytes sent overnight and just got it in their water. I hope it helps. I wondered if it was the heat since at night it still been in the high 80s here. I’ll attach a picture of one of the chicks. I either can’t post a video or just can’t figure out how

To post a video, upload it to youtube or vimeo or another video sharing site and copy and paste the video link here:

 

[Llpeters26]

To post a video, upload it to youtube or vimeo or another video sharing site and copy and paste the video link here:
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[TOMTE]

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Poor little things... They do look weak.

@azygous @Wyorp Rock What do you think? Parasites? Heat sickness? Vitamin deficiency?

 

[azygous]

Give the chicks a little extra sugar in their water for a quick glucose boost.

What is your water source? Sometimes when you get sick baby chicks, it can be from untreated well water or from ground water contaminated by fracking in the area. I suggest switching to bottled water for the next few weeks to be safe if you have these water issues.