Sick one week old chick

[Nixie222]

Hi all. I am new to raising chickens. Our Dominique was completely fine yesterday but today and is sleeping so much. She just stands there. I've used a syringe to help her stay hydrated. She did try to drink on her own but she does this wobbly thing. Her head throws back and she almost falls over. She is now laying face down in the brooder(separate from the others now) wings slightly sprawled. We are feeding them chick startedr that is medicated and their water has the electrolytes in it. The other 4 are fine. What is going on? Help. Thank you.

 

[haileyeverhart]

I hope she lives. Sorry I'm not sure whats wrong! Poor baby.

 

[peeper89]

this sad
give baby chicken some nutrdrench maybe that help it

 

[azygous]

It could be two things, one or both. The chick could be constipated, which is a crisis of the most immediate and urgent order. Or it could be wry neck.

Treat for constipation first. I recommend solid form coconut oil, about a teaspoon, broken into tiny bits and slipped onto the tongue until the chick swallows it. Massage the crop gently to disperse the oil.

If that's the chick's problem, you should see improvement in a few hours.

If the chick doesn't pass a huge turd and come back to life, then treat for wry neck. Vitamin E oil 400iu squeezed into the side of the beak with a sliver of selenium - do this once a day in conjunction with the Nutri-drench @peeper89 suggested. You will see improvement in a couple days. Continue until the chick has no more symptoms and is behaving normally.

If none of this works and the chick continues to go downhill, it is likely a failure-to-thrive chick and it may not possess the equipment necessary for survival.