Small Docile Chick - What Can I do?

[jamiebartlett]

I have a baby chick, that is 5 days old. Arrived at the feed store yesterday AM. I bought it yesterday afternoon. Shes in the brooder with three other chicks. The three other run around, are perkier and eat/drink a lot. This one seems to fall asleep very easily. Doesn't play around as much and isn't as perky. Her vent is clean and I have seen her poop and it looks normal. They have starter medicated food, water, temp is 90-95. What can I do to give her energy? My little girls are worried she's going to die. Any help anyone? Thanks, Jamie

 

[MTchick]

At that age, sometimes one chick is just different than the others. You may just need to give her space and time to grow up. As long as she is eating, drinking, pooping, sleeping, and sometimes walking around, you may just be observing a naturally calmer, younger, or sleepier bird. If the other chicks are preventing her from eating or drinking because they are so much perkier, you could isolate her to ensure she is gets peace, space, food and water for a day or two.

Alternatively, she might be sick or dehydrated. You could dip her beak in water every once in a while to ensure she is drinking enough, and observe her poop to see if it ever looks troublesome (watery, bloody, mucus-ish, etc). If so, medication and isolation would be in order.

Lastly, she might be less healthy and not fated to survive. That happens, sadly. There may be nothing you can do in that case.

I'd observe her for the next day very closely and try to narrow down these options. I hope she's just a zen little thing and simply likes to sleep!

-MTchick

 

[jamiebartlett]

Thanks! I hope that is what it is! My only concern is the water right now, I havent seen her go up and drink water herself. I keep trying to dip her beak in the water every now and then, but i'm not sure if she's getting any. I will definately keep an eye on her. Thanks for writing! -Jamie

 

[lively Bee's]

Move her in to a box by her self with heat food and water. place a little sugar in her water and use a eye droper and slowly put water on the end of her beak 5 - 10 drops it will drink it in from there repeat every 30 - 45 mins and see if she get more active over the next 6 - 7 hrs

We worked with our birds that had pneumonia they would not eat or drink but working with them just one day they made it out no problem. We lost some before we knew what was wrong.

 

[MTchick]

When you dip her beak in water, let her lift her head up afterwards. If she sort of "chews" a little bit (like a tiny silent crunch, crunch, crunch with her beak) than that is her drinking the water. Get the beak in there just a little below the nostril (not above! water in a nostril is bad!)

The sugar water is a good idea, so is an eye dropper to ensure she gets fluids if the dipping doesn't seem to work. If you haven't seen her drink, and you've watched her for a couple hours, then that alone could make her drowsy-looking and kill her pretty quickly. I'd try to get her more hydrated ASAP because it most certainly will not hurt her to try!

-MTchick