sick chicks?

[vjcd]

(Sorry new here and very panicked/worried for my little ones since I got them - what thread for this?)

Hi all, I've had my baby chicks (leghorns I believe) for three days now. Six of them from Tractor Supply Co chick days. While most seem happy and healthy, one seems to have severe diarrhea. It could be stress, easily, so I've given them sav-a-chick probiotics and electrolytes mixed in the same gallon of water. Here's hoping they drink it.

Cleaning the area I have them in about three times daily, checking for pasted butts in the morning and at night (a head duck and a studious glance with no touching if a chick seems too scared).

I have them on purina non-medicated chick starter feed, constant food and water available. Grit on standby for when I deem them healthy enough for treats.

Occasionally I hear one's stomach gurgle (occasionally meaning once a day). There's also a bit of sneezing, so I have let the room ventilate a bit better. Praying they don't catch a cold from this but this is the only solution I have to this one.

A few seem to like to peck at other's vents, wings and eyes..not exactly what I was expecting pecking order to look like, but if this is normal I will let them sort it out unless it becomes downright bullying.

I don't keep a thermometer. I let them tell me about where the lamp needs to be. I do plan to gradually move it away an inch once a week though.

No tail feathers yet, but three rows of feathers on their wings.

I may have managed to get 5/6 to be roosters. Somehow. Sigh.

tldr: a chick has diarrhea, someone's stomach gurgles occasionally, and everyone likes pecking butts. Does anyone want a rooster in some months?

Am I doing ANYTHING right/wrong? And what do I do if the diarrhea persists?

I would have gone ahead and treated for cocci but no meds for that yet unless Warzine does something for that. I'm a bit hesitant to use Apple Cider Vinegar as the diarrhea started after I tried introducing that.

Any suggestions? Very scared for my chicks, even if nothing is flashing sirens and alarms for me other than the diarrhea.

 

[sonjab314]

Definitely continue the electrolytes and I wouldnt treat for cocci yet unless you see blood in the poo. As far as pick ing at the vents and eyes, that seems like bullying to me. Usually they chest bump and jump on top of each other to establish pecking order. Hope everything turns out fine for your little chick.

 

[vjcd]

Definitely continue the electrolytes and I wouldnt treat for cocci yet unless you see blood in the poo.  As far as pick ing at the vents and eyes, that seems like bullying to me.  Usually they chest bump and jump on top of each other to establish pecking order.  Hope everything turns out fine for your little chick.

Will do! I've never had any birds nor chickens ever, but I am determined not to lose anyone.

But the pecking is strange..they are obviously seeking out where they are going to peck. Targetting. Like they stare wind up for food, when they can't decide if something is to eat. It's two or three doing this. How should I react to this? Yesterday one tried to latch onto another's eye so I picked the offender up until it stopped squirming then put them back down. More of a panic reaction than my thought process though. Isolation when they go at it? I don't have many places yo keep them, and only one heat lamp and water dish currently.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

As far as the diarrhea you're seeing, it may not just be one of them and it may be a normal chick thing. All chickens, be they small chicks or adults, pass what's called a cecal poop. Its runny, and ranges in color from a icky greenish yellow to a dark chocolate brown. Sometimes it can even be a rusty red color that looks a lot like blood. The cecal poops purpose is to help clean out the intestinal tract. They're gross, but normal.


As for the pecking, I also consider that normal stuff. Eyes are shiny, little toes look like worms and vents pulse. Chickens are pretty curious little creatures, and they explore their world (and each other) with their beaks. I have a couple of peckers in every bunch of chicks. I've seen them grab eyelids and toes and hang on. Personally, I just let it go. Eventually the naughty ones figure out that their buddies don't appreciate being pecked, and they find other things to mess with. If it isn't excessive, as in no blood is being drawn, I recommend just leaving them to it and letting them get over it.

The cocci, Wazine won't touch it. Wazine is a wormer, cocci are protozoa and require a different medicine (Corid). There are 9 different strains of cocci, and only one of them results in bloody poos. But I agree that you shouldn't treat them. If they aren't lethargic or puffed up, they're okay (and I'm assuming they're not since you've stated they're running around pecking at each other ).

Anyway, something I've observed with my Leghorns is that they are a very active breed. They do well with a lot of space. If you can enlarge their brooder, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Giving them other things to divert their attention, and the pecking, certainly couldn't hurt either. You can go ahead and supply them with some grit and give them a treat like a few cherry tomatoes. If you're not feeling that adventurous, boil and mash or scramble some eggs and let them have at it. My chicks also really enjoy a clump of sod or a bowl of dirt to pick through and dust in. Mirrors seem to be a great source of entertainment as well.

Good luck

 

[chicapee]

Hi, I had one with pasty butt for about a week. Mine also came from tractor supply. I rinsed it bottom under a warm stream of running water until clean, then applied Vaseline twice a day. The chick lost the fluff around its bottom and was much smaller than the others. I have just fed them one small bag of medicated starter feed. No further diarrhea or pasty butt and the chick is catching up to the others size wise. Good luck, it is a worry when you sense that something isn't quite right.

 

[vjcd]

As far as the diarrhea you're seeing, it may not just be one of them and it may be a normal chick thing. All chickens, be they small chicks or adults, pass what's called a cecal poop. Its runny, and ranges in color from a icky greenish yellow to a dark chocolate brown. Sometimes it can even be a rusty red color that looks a lot like blood. The cecal poops purpose is to help clean out the intestinal tract. They're gross, but normal.


As for the pecking, I also consider that normal stuff. Eyes are shiny, little toes look like worms and vents pulse. Chickens are pretty curious little creatures, and they explore their world (and each other) with their beaks. I have a couple of peckers in every bunch of chicks. I've seen them grab eyelids and toes and hang on. Personally, I just let it go. Eventually the naughty ones figure out that their buddies don't appreciate being pecked, and they find other things to mess with. If it isn't excessive, as in no blood is being drawn, I recommend just leaving them to it and letting them get over it.

The cocci, Wazine won't touch it. Wazine is a wormer, cocci are protozoa and require a different medicine (Corid). There are 9 different strains of cocci, and only one of them results in bloody poos. But I agree that you shouldn't treat them. If they aren't lethargic or puffed up, they're okay (and I'm assuming they're not since you've stated they're running around pecking at each other ).

Anyway, something I've observed with my Leghorns is that they are a very active breed. They do well with a lot of space. If you can enlarge their brooder, it certainly wouldn't hurt. Giving them other things to divert their attention, and the pecking, certainly couldn't hurt either. You can go ahead and supply them with some grit and give them a treat like a few cherry tomatoes. If you're not feeling that adventurous, boil and mash or scramble some eggs and let them have at it. My chicks also really enjoy a clump of sod or a bowl of dirt to pick through and dust in. Mirrors seem to be a great source of entertainment as well.

Good luck

Thanks for the advice! I'll sit back and let them handle it unless blood is drawn or they are relentless to one in particular.

Right now they are about the size of the palm of my hand, and they were obviously not having enough room to do their running flappy things so they now have their own small pool. They just love kicking their shavings into their water, along with their poops.

But thanks again, I'm at the worried paranoid stage where even one doing the by-now normal act of stretching out and sleeping scares me. May do the tomatoes, diced of course!

 

[vjcd]

Hey all again, sorry for bumping thiw again but as an update, the diarrhea seems to have cleared fast - maybe it was the specialty poo and not diarrhea after all. But I saw three bits of it at the same time for the first time so I had a fast assumption.

But now I am back with another question - I believe these babies to be Leghorn, and they are between five days and a week old, and I was wondering if I am able to tell their sex by their wings? If not, a few seem to be lagging behind.

One I suspect to be female by the wings.

Ones I suspect to be male, middle and down. Don't worry, that paper ball was only in there under direct supervision. It came out whenever I so much as left the room. Far from the heat lamp as well.

If this is right that makes my little flock almost an even mixture. Two have the small feathers distinctly and one seems in between.

Is there a method to this for Leghorn or am I just trying too hard just yet to get a definite sex?

 

[vjcd]

Sorry bumping again but suddenly a lot of mine are sneezing, and one seems to have something in their nose - constant sneezing, much louder than the others. Rattling breath, but otherwise is wandering around and reacting normally. Dust from the pine shavings?

I covered the shavings just in case but it hasnt cleared up yet.

Edit: seems to get worse as they rest so keeping them out of the nest a while

While still waiting for a what-do, assuming that it was the pine dust and went ahead and remover all traces as best I can at midnight. Chick is still having extreme difficulty breathing.