Very sick, unresponsive baby chick :(

[KrysPel]

I have a roughly 1-2 week old Leghorn chick who I woke up to this morning laying down in the corner of her brooder all by herself.. while the other nine chicks were moving around as normal. She was very unresponsive, barely opened her eyes and instead continue lying there, even when petted, touched, partially moved e.t.c She has very labored, short breathing with her mouth closed which worries me, the only good thing I can see is that although her breathing is that, it's also steady.

I examined her and even when I pick her up and hold her, move her e.t.c she barely opens her eyes, can't stand up fully, and lays down with her head folded down to the ground. I noticed around her rear it looked as if the downy around it had been wet, because it was stuck together like when the down gets wet. But I hadn't wet her to clean her anytime recently. She has not had any unfortunate case of Pasty butt.

There is a small black scab maybe a finger nail length down from her rear, it looks like it's been picked at because the center of it is like a piece of thread sticking up. Help me please! Does anyone know what it could be or that I could do? I thought at first maybe she overheated, so I held her in a damp, cool wash rag to which I got a slight response, but then she just settled back down. I tried to dab water on my finger to get her interested, but nada. I haven't seen her eat, or drink in while.

Right now I put her back in the brooder, thinking maybe she'd decide to drink or eat and maybe her friends would rise her up... but so far... no...

 

[KrysPel]

Also, none of the other 9 chicks are hurt or showing any signs of being sick or lethargic. They are active, running around, passively jumping on top of each other and eating and drinking.

 

[casportpony]

Best to keep it warm and maybe start the chicks on Corid. Best to use the severe outbreak amount,
Dosing picture:


-Kathy

 

[KrysPel]

Thank you, I will look into that right away! Do you think she could have coccidiosis??

 

[casportpony]

Thank you, I will look into that right away! Do you think she could have coccidiosis??

Possibly. Also could have an infection. Get it warm and see if you can get it to drink some warmed Gatorade.

-Kathy

 

[KrysPel]

Thank you so much for your reply... I tried all I could but unfortunately she didn't make it.... Should I still get the Corid and give small doses to my other 9 chicks, just to keep them from perhaps getting it/an infection that could be passes on from her? I'm using clorox on there brooder and cleaning it out thoroughly, same with their food and water just to be cautious....

 

[casportpony]

Thank you so much for your reply... I tried all I could but unfortunately she didn't make it.... Should I still get the Corid and give small doses to my other 9 chicks, just to keep them from perhaps getting it/an infection that could be passes on from her? I'm using clorox on there brooder and cleaning it out thoroughly, same with their food and water just to be cautious....

Sorry for your loss. Don't feel bad, the little ones can be really hard to save.

Any chance you can send her off for a necropsy?

-Kathy

 

[KrysPel]

Thank you so much for the consolation, you're right, they can be pretty difficult at times, I did all that I could!

I wish I had thought about a necropsy earlier though!
I do think the other chicks are safe though! I purchased some Corid and have been mixing it in the others water as a preventative, and although the other chicks hadn't seemed sick, I've noticed they've gotten much more spunky and energetic than they were before! Wow, so glad you told me about that!