Sudden Illness in Chick.

[SurferchickinSB]

One is not too terrible for me. I lost 10 between two hatches last year. Never was able to find out why. Which is why I’m trying to figure it out to prevent that from happening. They’re meat chicks so they only are cute for 3-4 weeks then the ugly sets in.

Oh, lol!

 

[LibbyR]

Now I have another chick showing weird symptoms. This one can’t stand up but wants to. It’s legs are strong it’s almost like it’s the wings. Neck is turned weird. They got vitamins and electrolytes as chicks but I took them out because last year I overdid them. I don’t know what to do. Last year of 4-H and can’t find any replacements if these all die.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Can you post a pic of the sick chick?

 

[SurferchickinSB]

One is not too terrible for me. I lost 10 between two hatches last year. Never was able to find out why. Which is why I’m trying to figure it out to prevent that from happening. They’re meat chicks so they only are cute for 3-4 weeks then the ugly sets in. And yes the temps change. I just don’t ever know with our weather here. It was wonderful and sunny when I got the babies but then the next day it got down to 29. So I’ve been raising and lowering often.

Yeah, having the outdoor temperature changing drastically would make it really hard.

 

[LibbyR]

Can you post a pic of the sick chick?

Here’s one I took not very good but all I have. He’s splayed out but tries to move. Using wings for balance. Was fine as could be 3 hours before.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

I will call a couple of our best helpers but it's late and I don't know if they are available now.
@Eggcessive @Wyorp Rock @casportpony

 

[Wyorp Rock]

6 day old chicks and left for a few hours. They had their medicated food, water, and the heat was between 90-100. Came home and found one chick laying face down with one eye shut. Have him some nutri drench

Could he have gotten too hot?

These are my meatbirds for a 4-H project

I did switch feed brands because I couldn’t find any of the same medicated feed

On further examination it looks like it is wry neck. The chick has a crooked bent neck. So can wry neck happen suddenly or is it a result of injury

sitting at about 95. And they’re all falling asleep underneath

I tried giving him nutridrench drop by drop but no matter how careful I was I think he aspirated

Now I have another chick showing weird symptoms. This one can’t stand up but wants to. It’s legs are strong it’s almost like it’s the wings. Neck is turned weird.

Here’s one I took not very good but all I have. He’s splayed out but tries to move. Using wings for balance. Was fine as could be 3 hours before.

I'm sorry for your loss.

Can you post some photos of the whole brooder?
What's the temp under the lamp and on the cooler side of the lamp?
How big is the brooder?

You switched feed recently - what were you using and what did you switch to?

Are you adding anything to the water?

Some photos of the chicks and how they look along with their poop without the red light would be good too.

If you think it's Wry Neck, then giving the chick 2-3 drops of Poultry Nutri-Drench orally twice a day may help. If you have problems with aspiration. Let the chick stand up on a surface while holding it (so you aren't pressing the crop). Take a qtip and dip in your PND, then press it against the beak so the liquid seeps in the beak a little at a time. Let the chick swallow and go slow.

 

[LibbyR]

Just from Nutrena Medicated 18% to Purina Medicated 18%. Nothing too different in ingredients. Both smelled and looked fine. Brooder is warm on one end cool on the other. Temp underneath is around 90. The other side was way cooler. Around 50. They do not act hot. They’re milling around eating and scratching. Then suddenly one just starts acting hurt. I’ve had chicks for around 4 years so I know what they need which is why it’s so disheartening when things go wrong. Water has nothing in it just clean lukewarm to cool but not freezing water since it’s still cold outside. I have 15 chicks. Gave the ill chick some nutridrench by tiny drops with no aspiration as of yet.

 

[LibbyR]

I'm sorry for your loss.

Can you post some photos of the whole brooder?
What's the temp under the lamp and on the cooler side of the lamp?
How big is the brooder?

You switched feed recently - what were you using and what did you switch to?

Are you adding anything to the water?

Some photos of the chicks and how they look along with their poop without the red light would be good too.

If you think it's Wry Neck, then giving the chick 2-3 drops of Poultry Nutri-Drench orally twice a day may help. If you have problems with aspiration. Let the chick stand up on a surface while holding it (so you aren't pressing the crop). Take a qtip and dip in your PND, then press it against the beak so the liquid seeps in the beak a little at a time. Let the chick swallow and go slow.

 

[LibbyR]

Update: Chick received Nutri Drench Orally three times a day for a week and a half and now you wouldn’t even notice she was sick!