Sick/cold chick?

[PirateGirl]

I am a new chicken owner. I have had my chicks 1 week. They are now 7.5 weeks old in an outdoor coop. They get limited supervised outside yard time weather permitting.

One chick is not doing well. It started after a particularly cold night 2 nights ago. She is lethargic. She is always puffed up. She is quiet. She does not get excited about food or water or scratching around or climbing on perches or act like the other chicks. She used to act like the others, so I fear something is wrong. I brought her inside to warm her up the first morning, and put her back with the flock when I went to work yesterday. When I came home she was improved and insisted on going out in the yard with the other chicks, but once out there didn't do much of anything, also seems a little clumsy. This morning she didn't get up and about with the sun with the other chicks and seems worse again. Now a different chick is sneezy but seems otherwise healthy. (Hoping just from dusty bedding). Is there anything I can do? Do we just wait and see if she can regain strength? I am going to change 100% of the bedding out and thoroughly clean the water and food containers this afternoon. I am also going to rig up a heat light for overnight because even though I was assured they would be fine and old enough to be outdoors and handle cold etc, clearly they are not. What else can I do? Anything? I hope she can pull through.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I am a new chicken owner. I have had my chicks 1 week. They are now 7.5 weeks old in an outdoor coop. They get limited supervised outside yard time weather permitting.

One chick is not doing well. It started after a particularly cold night 2 nights ago. She is lethargic. She is always puffed up. She is quiet. She does not get excited about food or water or scratching around or climbing on perches or act like the other chicks. She used to act like the others, so I fear something is wrong. I brought her inside to warm her up the first morning, and put her back with the flock when I went to work yesterday. When I came home she was improved and insisted on going out in the yard with the other chicks, but once out there didn't do much of anything, also seems a little clumsy. This morning she didn't get up and about with the sun with the other chicks and seems worse again. Now a different chick is sneezy but seems otherwise healthy. (Hoping just from dusty bedding). Is there anything I can do? Do we just wait and see if she can regain strength? I am going to change 100% of the bedding out and thoroughly clean the water and food containers this afternoon. I am also going to rig up a heat light for overnight because even though I was assured they would be fine and old enough to be outdoors and handle cold etc, clearly they are not. What else can I do? Anything? I hope she can pull through.

It sounds like she may have Cocci. Cocci can cause lethargy/weakness, not eating, loss of balance, diarrhea with mucous or blood and puffed up/huddled appearance. Treatment is with Corid which can be found at your local feed store or online.

Corid dosage is 1 1/2 teaspoons Corid powder per gallon or 2 teaspoons of 9.6% Corid liquid per gallon.
Give for 5-7 days - make sure this is the ONLY water available during that time period. Mix a fresh batch at least once a day.
After they finish treatment offer some poultry vitamins and probiotics/plain yogurt.

Corid is generally considered mild and is not harmful, so you may want to treat all the chicks, just provide them with the Corid water to drink.

 

[PirateGirl]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock

Is corid used to treat anything else or is it really specific to this one thing? Is this an illness that is somewhat common? I'm thinking maybe I should just get some to keep on hand regardless since there is nowhere close to my house to purchase it, that way I have it if ever needed in future as well.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Thank you @Wyorp Rock

Is corid used to treat anything else or is it really specific to this one thing? Is this an illness that is somewhat common? I'm thinking maybe I should just get some to keep on hand regardless since there is nowhere close to my house to purchase it, that way I have it if ever needed in future as well.

Corid is only used to treat Coccidiosis. Corid is a coccidiostat which blocks Thiamine (B1) and helps reduce the growth (starves out) an overload of Cocci.

Coccidiosis is found everywhere. A small amount of Cocci can be found naturally in chickens, the problem when there becomes an overload. Chickens of all ages can have an overload, but it seen more in chicks since they usually have not built a resistance to the strains they will encounter. It can be deadly or cause future intestinal problems if not treated.