Urgent: 2-1/2 week chick very very lethargic, puffed up

[GretchenM]

We have 25 2-1/2 week old chicks. They've been in a brooder made of cardboard, with pine shavings for bedding. Feeding them medicated chick starter, with some grit mixed in. Everyone else is FINE and very energetic, but one Easter Egger is standing up straight, looks puffed up, and she may be breathing kind of hard (not sure). She's VERY VERY lethargic, hardly moving, and her eyes keep closing (when she's standing; she's not lying down to rest). She's not eating or drinking. When I stepped into the breeder and moved towards her, she didn't really move -- usually she'd run away. I checked her for pasty butt, and she's clean. Something is very wrong with her, but I don't know what else to check, or what to do for her. I GREATLY appreciate any thoughts, because I'm pretty sure she's going to die if I can't fix whatever's wrong with her.

 

[coach723]

What do the chicks droppings look like? Is the crop full or empty?
Some pictures of your brooder set up might help.

 

[Punkybrewster]

2 weeks, puffed up and lethargic?
I would def assume coccidiosis.
Do you have corid?

 

[GretchenM]

UPDATE: I did some research on BYC and saw just what Punkybrewster suggested, that the most likely culprit is coccidiosis. Went to the feed store to get Corid and just mixed it with their water. Meanwhile, the sickie got a lot more active (tho still sub-par) when I got in the brooder and fed everyone mealworms.... or maybe I should say, when I started the mealworm frenzy...

 

[GretchenM]

What do the chicks droppings look like? Is the crop full or empty?
Some pictures of your brooder set up might help.

I don't see any abnormal droppings. Best I can tell, her crop is relatively full.

 

[coach723]

You can also give her an oral dose of the corid in addition to the medicated water. Helps get the meds in quicker, it's very safe, don't worry about too much. Dosing for that is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/
Just to make sure you are using the correct dose, chart is below, use the severe outbreak dosing.

 

[GretchenM]

You can also give her an oral dose of the corid in addition to the medicated water. Helps get the meds in quicker, it's very safe, don't worry about too much. Dosing for that is here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/corid-oral-drench-instructions.1211991/
Just to make sure you are using the correct dose, chart is below, use the severe outbreak dosing.

Thanks a TON for this! I was wondering about whether I could give her a kind of enhanced treatment (only slightly diluted), but by a few hours after I treated their waterer, she was much better. I don't know if it's possible for Corid to work that fast -- could've been something other than coccidiosis -- but I'm definitely continuing the 5-day treatment. This morning, I think she seems fine. She and 1 or 2 others are holding back from the rest of the flock when I bring them mealworms, but it may just be their personalities. They're still evolving so much, I'm just not sure. But anyway, this is GREAT to know for future reference!!

 

[GretchenM]

I really, deeply appreciate everyone's help! I ran straight out and got Corid to put in their water. The Sickie Chickie seemed better after a few hours, and this morning, she seems fine. I don't know if it's possible for Corid to work that fast -- could've been something other than coccidiosis -- but I'm definitely continuing the 5-day treatment. I haven't had this with my previous broods, so I GREATLY appreciate everyone's quick and excellent advice!

 

[coach723]

Glad they are doing better. Corid is very safe, so I definitely would do the complete treatment. Sometimes it does work that fast. There are different strains of coccidia, some are more virulent than others, so it just depends on what strain is there and how much damage there was to the digestive tract. The sooner treatment is started, the better the result. And if it was something else, the Corid won't hurt anything.