Suddenly Lethargic chick

[efowl24]

Ive had my chicks for two weeks on Thursday. I had one chick pass on Friday very suddenly after acting very odd and lethargic, she had a droopy wing and would open and close are mouth, occasionally it looked like she was adjusting her crop, her eyes were closed but still had the white membrane eyelid visible. I dipped her beak in sugar water a couple times, she leaned back and drank it, a few minutes later, she died. This chick isn't acting as bad, but now im worried.

This chick, was acting 100% normal yesterday when I got home from work. Last night before bed I check on the chicks like normal. They normally always come out from under the heater, and they all did except this chick. So, I lifted the heater up and she sluggishly walked out and just stood there. She wasn't acting like her normal self, normally she's doing chicken things like scratching around and pecking the ground, running around, etc. Now she just stands there and kinda squints her eyes every now and then. The same thing this morning, she didn't come out, I lifted the heater, slowly walked out and just stood there. She did go eat this morning when I checked on her, but immediately went back under the heater as soon as she could. I tried dipping her beak in sugar water last night to see if that would give her a boost, but she was not interested in it. She just shook her head to get the drop off her beak. They have had medicated chick feed from day 1, and I have been giving probiotic and electrolyte water since I had issues with the other chick. I am at a loss and don't know what to do to help her.

 

[efowl24]

Here is a video of her

 

[SandyRiverChick]

It's good that you're only feeding chick feed. Are you adding water for a mash? With them on shavings, do you have any chick grit in there? I've stopped using shavings until I'm also ready to give chick grit as they eat shavings and saw dust as well as straw and hay and can get crop issues. Is she pooping? No pasty butt? How is crop? If you discover crop issues, you can treat for that.

 

[efowl24]

It's good that you're only feeding chick feed. Are you adding water for a mash? With them on shavings, do you have any chick grit in there? I've stopped using shavings until I'm also ready to give chick grit as they eat shavings and saw dust as well as straw and hay and can get crop issues. Is she pooping? No pasty butt? How is crop? If you discover crop issues, you can treat for that.

Yes I provide chick grit. I actually was able to run home briefly and check on her because I also thought maybe she has an impacted crop, but it’s empty. She pooped while I was there, and it looks normal. No pasty butt.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

That's good. How is she today? I'd probably stop probiotics and electrolytes and give her some Nutri drench or something similar. And add water to crumbles for a mash. What temps are you dealing with? At 1 week old they don't need high heat but did she get a high heat warm up the first day or 2 ?

 

[efowl24]

That's good. How is she today? I'd probably stop probiotics and electrolytes and give her some Nutri drench or something similar. And add water to crumbles for a mash. What temps are you dealing with? At 1 week old they don't need high heat but did she get a high heat warm up the first day or 2 ?

She is acting 100% normal today! Last night when I got home and checked on her she was the first out from the heater and was scratching around and pecking like a healthy chick! The brooder is in my garage, which isn’t air conditioned but does have heat if it gets too cold. I’m in KY right now, so the weather outside is changing a lot day to day. But generally, lows in the 50s and highs in the 70-80s. The garage stays cooler than outside, somewhere around 60-70 on the daily. The heating plate in the brooder I’ve got slanted, the warmest part is somewhere around 85-90° at the moment.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

That's great news! I just booted my 2week olds out to my coop brooder with low's 39-45 but thanks to the same, slanted heat plate, they're zooming around enjoying the space. I really love heat plates/pads. Allows me to not worry about the cold. Hope all stays good for you!!