Weak chick, won’t eat or drink, droopy wings....

[chickmamat]

my local feed store got in a shipment of chicks. I know the owner and she told me that the shipping company lost the chicks, and so they arrived 24hrs late. Some had sadly died and some were very weak. I took two home that seemed fine. Then I noticed one of them wasn’t eat or drinking. Or really moving. She was unstable on her feet and he crop was completely empty. The other was energetic with a full crop.

They gave me a replacement chick, but I kept the weak one to try and save her.

I was able to get some sugar water in her via syringe, and she gained a little strength. Still not eating or drinking on her own. I also gave her a little plain yogurt with spinach blended in it via syringe.

She seems a little stronger (I was shocked she made it trough the night). But still droopy wings and unstable. I’m starting to wonder if she’s blind? She doesn’t react to me hand in front of her face.

I have her separated from the other two in case she actually has a disease. But she won’t stop crying today.

I’m wondering if she would do better with some friends and comfort?

Any suggestions?

 

[Nambroth]

It sounds like she got chilled and weak in the too-long shipping period. This is sadly not uncommon. It sounds like all the chicks came from the same place? If so I don't think there is any danger in leaving her with the others as long as they don't overwhelm her; their added heat and presence might be helpful to her. She needs to be able to rest and she might not by herself, if she is crying. It sounds like she is very weak... sadly a lot like this don't make it but I always try anyhow. When you gave her the food via syringe, did she easily drink it down in small bursts or did she seem to choke? Be very careful to give her time to swallow each "gulp". A lot of people use Poultry Drench to try to perk up a weak chick. If you can't find it, a temporary dose of sugar water might help her gain some energy. With my most recent weak chick, I gave her one drink of sugar water, then followed up with hard-boiled egg yolk pureed into warm water until it was a consistency like thick gravy, and got her to eat a bit of that mixed with hand feeding formula. It was what she needed to get going.

 

[chickmamat]

It sounds like she got chilled and weak in the too-long shipping period. This is sadly not uncommon. It sounds like all the chicks came from the same place? If so I don't think there is any danger in leaving her with the others as long as they don't overwhelm her; their added heat and presence might be helpful to her. She needs to be able to rest and she might not by herself, if she is crying. It sounds like she is very weak... sadly a lot like this don't make it but I always try anyhow. When you gave her the food via syringe, did she easily drink it down in small bursts or did she seem to choke? Be very careful to give her time to swallow each "gulp". A lot of people use Poultry Drench to try to perk up a weak chick. If you can't find it, a temporary dose of sugar water might help her gain some energy. With my most recent weak chick, I gave her one drink of sugar water, then followed up with hard-boiled egg yolk pureed into warm water until it was a consistency like thick gravy, and got her to eat a bit of that mixed with hand feeding formula. It was what she needed to get going.

Yes they did all come from the same place. She does swallow water easily. The food she doesn’t want to swallow. And the yogurt went down well. Her poop is mostly liquid though....

Thank you this is very helpful!