Two sick chicks (PICS)

[Hilltopper46]

Hi;

I'm new at this. I have two chick - both 1-1/2 weeks old - hatch day June 15 or so. First one is a Buff Orpington. Today is the first day we noticed her. Very listless - stays under the heat lamp all the time. Holding wings halfway down her body. Her tail feathers move with every breath - almost like she is straining. I think I saw her poop when I first noticed her this afternoon. I checked her vent - it isn't plugged and looks like healthy clear mucous on it. Any ideas would be welcome.

The second is much more lively and we have noticed her for the last three days. Her crop always look very full, and she carries her head back on her shoulders further than the other chicks, plus she carries her wings higher on her back. Every once in a while she stretches her neck and twists it a bit and opens her mouth with the neck stretched out. I've felt her crop and it is not hard. I've looked down her mouth but can't see anything. I've seen her eat a number of times since I first noticed her.

These guys aren't pets, but I hate to see them uncomfortable and if we can do anything to help them get over this we would appreciate it.

Thanks in advance.

 

[KittyKelly]

Please someone correct me if I'm wrong but it looks like the second chick has a bloated crop.....

 

[sonew123]

are they filling up on bedding? last poster was right-the crop looks enlarged-you can try and have her take a few good drops of oilive oil down her throat and rub her crop to get it to slide down easier-if thats what it is-do you have vitamin drops on hand? I would give the BO a few drops everyday and maybe some electrolites to boost its strength...

 

[chickenzoo]

The first chick with the wings down, sleepy and disinterested could be coccidia..... Check her stool for any blood, but it is not always there even if she does have it. A little Sulmet or Corid in the water for a few days normally helps. Make sure she eats and drinks and stays warm.
The second chick could have sourer crop, or it could be a pig. I would separate the chick and give it small amounts of feed at a time. See if the crop goes down. Sometimes if they have sour crop you can smell the gasses out their mouth. If it does not go down, feed the chick some olive oil and gently massage the crop until it emptys. Watch the bedding and make sure they are not trying to eat any of it.... Best Wishes

 

[sammi]

what is the bedding you're using?
what are you feeding?

check both chicks' crops..they could be eating the bedding and have blockage.
feel the crops for lumps or doughy feeling.
the buff orp could also be blocked lower down and having problems passing waste, and not getting nutrients, so is cold.
oil might help and massaging the crops might help.
if they are eating bedding, chick grit might help.

at this age it's better to use ribbed paper towels, or regular towels on top of layers of newspaper.
another option is that rubbery type non-slip shelf lining..

hard to know yet if the buff orp has cocci or not...since symptoms could be cocci or blockage.
but if it has cocci, it needs treatment right away..follow directions on label of Corid/Amprol or liquid Sulmet 12.5%.

 

[Hilltopper46]

Quote:
The bedding is wood shavings/ chips from my wood lathe. Maple and oak.

I am feeding the TSC brand 20% chick starter.

Thanks, everyone, for your ideas and suggestions.

 

[sammi]

get rid of the shavings bedding.
and check the crops, etc as above.

might need some vitamins..if you can get chick vitamins, use that..
or you can use Poly-vi-sol liquid baby vitamins, ..Enfamil brand makes a formula with NO IRON..give 2 drops on beaks once day for a week, the taper off for another week..
available at any pharmacy.