stressed 5 day old chick

[mollyc]

We became first time chick owners on Wed. morning. The chicks hatched on Monday and were shipped to us that day. All seem robust and active except for one who is struggling. We didn’t notice it struggling until Wed. in the middle of the night. It’s beathing is hard and rapid and it mostly sleeps. The chick was a little better this morning (Friday) after taking a little sugar water. We have been holding it a lot because that seems to keep it calm. We put it in the brooder with the others and it works its way to the light where it stands with its head down. Eventually it will start panting. At least it looks like it is panting. It opens and closes its mouth and with each breath. Sometimes we move it to a cooler part of the brooder. Whether or not we move it, it usually starts flopping around at this point. If we pick it up, it calms down and eventually goes to sleep. I am concerned because it is not eating. WE have tried giving it different mashes made from chick starter and either yogurt, water or both. We can’t get it to take any. It will take water from an eye dropper. We have dissolved a little chick starter in the water, but we can only give it cloudy water as most of the starter clogs up the eye dropper. It is excreting about once every hour or hour and a half. This usually is asolid cylinder and a lot of liquid. The solid portion is the same color as the other chicks, but looks a little more solid. Any ideas of what to do for it?

 

[hinkjc]

It sounds like you're doing everything you can for the little one. Some chicks fail to thrive and shipping stress is hard on them. Keep trying but please don't beat yourself up if the chick doesn't make it. It happens sometimes.

Keeping my fingers crossed that the little one perks up for you.