Sleepy chick

[Cajunrose]

I have one Barred Rock that is 2.5ish weeks old. She seems overly sleepy. She is my daughter's favorite because she can be handled b/c she doesn't try to get away. She's super cuddly, etc. However, I'm noticing all she does is sleep. My daughter says she does eat and drink, but I'm not so sure. I need to start really watching to see that she does. Ok, I just went in there and she took 2 drinks of water...then promptly fell asleep at the water bowl..with the top part of her body nearly in the waterer.

Do you have any ideas? I would hate to loose one of them.

Here is a picture of her sleeping on her perch...it's really kinda funny when she does that.

Thanks
Stephenie

 

[jpowers5882]

I don't have a an answer, but more of a "mine too". I got 8 NH Reds yesterday. 7 seem very happy and chatty. However, I noticed that one of them is very sleepy. Her eyes are closed most of the time. She doesn't move around a lot. Sick or just sleepy???

 

[teeville5]

I had a BR chick get overly sleepy at that age, too. She seemed to sleep standing only and had a hunched up look and her feathers had a ruffled look to them. She also would sneeze a bit and her poo was watery white. I isolated her to her own box so I could monitor her eating/drinking/poo. At first, things weren't going well and it got down to where I had to feed her a combo of water/ground feed/chick saver vitamins/acv from a dropper every so many hours because she wasn't eating or drinking on her own. I did this for 2 weeks without ever really finding out what was wrong with her and I was at the point of giving up when she finally had a breakthrough. She's been getter better day by day and is more alert now. The only side effect noticed so far is that while sick she stopped growing. Her sister chicks are double her size.

Whether you can figure out what is causing her sleepiness or not, I hope your little chick gets better.

 

[Cajunrose]

I started hand feeding the chick with a dropper with liquid food (mash soaked in water), and apple cider vinegar and a tiny bit of antibiotics (friend raises chicks and she had some for me). She perked up pretty quick...however, the second feeding...I think she aspirated.

She coughed and sneezed, etc for a while. I can't tell if she is ok now or not yet. She's moving around and pruning now, and not sleeping. She actually startles when I move (she didn't before). I can't tell if she is breathing right or not. Her voice does sound funny still. I have no idea what the evening will bring. *sigh*

Stephenie

 

[sunkissed]

Not a good sign unfortunately. I lost one last week that started off this way. Make sure the chicks are plenty warm and are eating enough. Best of luck.

 

[Cajunrose]

Well, unless she gets an infection from the aspirating, she's fine. I had her seperated last night from the rest of the flock and she cried and cried and cried. I finally put her back in with the others and she ran around and played with them and went to the food bowl and ate and then drank. I think she'll be ok!!! Thanks

 

[jpowers5882]

Lost my sleepy on last night. A neighbor came over with a syringe and we fed her with that a couple of times. I think it was too little too late. The rest of the chicks seem okay. If I see such behavior next time, I'll know to swing into action a lot sooner.

 

[Butterfly Garden Girl]

My little nine day old cochin(I think) bantam has been my sleepy one, and we have watched over her(I hope) to make sure that she is eating and drinking. The other day we fed the chicks some meal worms and that really got her excited. She seems to be more acitive now. The chicks have chick grit to eat so that I can give them goodies. I think the mealworms in her tummy helped. We gave them more today-they just go CRAZY for them. We had some mealworms around because my son feeds them to his gecko.

I hope your chick begins to thrive soon.

 

[carolinasculpture]

x2. We had a sleepy who was transformed by a little mealworm TLC.

 

[Butterfly Garden Girl]

oh, I'm so sorry...I misread your post! I thought you meant that you lost some sleep taking care of him. The poor little guy. I am sorry that you lost your little chick.