Sudden onset very weak 4 weak old chick

[Peppermint]

Thanks in advance for any advice.

I have a 4 week old Mille Fleur D'Uccle that became really weak today. I noticed yesterday that she was getting stepped on by the other chicks, but thought she was just sleepy. Today, she is worse, I've isolated her, and she is eating and drinking a little. She is having small, but very normal looking poops. Her 12 brooder-mates are all thriving today; they are 4 weeks old and mostly bantams. No weird poops. They have only been fed chick starter, no treats.

The weak one can stand, but is wobbly. She kind of stands with her legs spread out for balance, then she lays down pretty quickly. Her wings look weak and droop when she's lying down.

It doesn't sound like cocci, and if it was botulism or marek's I thought more would be affected?

What do you think?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Here is a link to some chicken diseases:
http://www.raising-chickens.org/poultry-ailments.html
Offhand I'm not sure what it could be.
Try making a paste or slurry out of some chick feed & warm water & see if she'll eat that. Is your feed medicated?
There is a vitamin/electrolyte supplement called Sav-A-Chik that you could add to her water. Most feed stores should have it.
Good idea on isolating her. Keep her warm, hydrated & fed.
I hope she pulls out of it for you.

 

[calicokat]

I had one of my polish chicks suddenly weak and it really looked like it was dying. It stood on its feet and drooped its head all the way to the ground. When it picked it up it was weak and droopy in my arms.

I brought it in, sat it here on my desk while I searched BYC for answers, and fed it some shredded, canned mackeral for protein. It ate a little, maybe a teaspoon. The scent did get its attention. Then I got the yogur out and spoon fed it that. It LOVED the yogurt and probably ate 2 tablespoons. I also had a small waterer in here and was dunking its head in, just like when they were babies and first arrived. It would swallow the water that got on its beak and then FINALLY took a couple of drinks on its own. It turned out that since it was one of the smallest, it wasn't getting up to the food and water so much. It was just dehydrated and hungry.

After babying it like that in the house for the evening. It seemed to be getting strength back. I put it to roost with the others and to my shock it was FINE the next day.

I was just sure I was about to lose it from some mysterious disease or sickness, but it was simple hunger and thirst.

Might try it, since you said this one got stepped on by others.

 

[Bravo]

I have a chick that ended up with cocci that started with the same symptoms. I did the same thing as you. 2 days later the bloody stool started. I'm still trying to nurse it back to health.

 

[Peppermint]

So perhaps I should treat for cocci even though the stools are still normal? Go figure, tomorrow is easter and I'm sure everywhere with Corid on hand is closed!

 

[Bravo]

I would.

Post on the Washington thread in the "Where am I? Where are you?" section. I hope someone near you can share some Corid with you.

 

[Peppermint]

This morning the chick is weaker, not able to stand on its own. When I try to stand her up, she flails and her legs go out all crazy when she tries to sit normally. She gives up pretty quickly and just lays there however her legs end up. I've checked for injuries, swelling in legs, mites, etc.

Yikes. This may have to be the first chick I put down. Even if I did get some Corid today, getting enough in her would prove very difficult. All other chicks are still as lively as ever, thankfully.

 

[Bravo]

She could still survive. My chick was bad. I force fed her a porage of chick starter, smart water and a hardboiled egg for the first few days. I also gave here 2cc's of water via a syringe 5 times a day. 5 days later she is making tremendous progress. I realize that its a lot of commitment and most people can't do it due to other obligations. Whatever you decide is best for you is. Sending positive energy your way!

 

[Peppermint]

Thanks for your support. I'm syringe feeding her chick vitamin water, she freaked out when I dipped her beak in yogurt...not a good healthy freak out, but a weak attempt to try to get away from the alien blob and flop onto her back freak out.

Her poops are still normal, although less frequent than normal. I gave her a little vit D and E in the syringe too. Does it sound like Mareks? She was not vaccinated, but also has never been out of the brooder.

 

[Bravo]

It's hard on everyone. Shes probably in a lot of pain and not understanding you are helping. It took a few days for mine to be cooperative but alas either the pain made her give in or she figured out I was trying to help. What really worked for me was blending the mixture fine and watery enough that I could administer it through a syringe. It kept her hydrated in addition to giving her energy. once she has more energy she ate on her own.

Interestingly enough, 6 days after she started showing symptoms the rest of my chicks started in with being weak and then the bloody diarrhea. I oriniginally treated everyone with Sulmet 4 days ago and they all still got sick while on Sulmet. I have everyone on Corid since last night and just in 12 hrs so much progress.

From what I've read about Marek's, it causes their bodies to torsion. They could still be exposed to Mareks if you had contact with other birds and didn't change your clothes/wash your hands. Her symptoms sound more like dehydration to me but who knows.

I'm hoping for the best for your chick!