weak chick

[TonkaGirl]

I received 11 chicks on Tue (6/2/15), they hatched that Monday. So they are all about 3-4 days old now. All seem to be doing great besides one. When all the others are running around, eating, and drinking; she is standing under the heat lamp with her eyes closed and wings slightly drooped. They are on chick starter crumbles and get fresh water at least once a day, usually more often. I just have her a little sugar water to see if that will give her some energy to get moving and eat. I don't recall if I had seen her eat and drink previously. Does anyone have any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance!

 

[chickensforkids]

Good morning, I had a chick doing something similar a few weeks ago. I contacted the hatchery, and this is the information that they gave me. I am NOT an expert, and just a beginner, but after asking a lot of questions the person at the hatchery told me that the medicine she suggested would not hurt the chick, it could only help. Unfortunately I didn't get the chance to try it, because my chick was sick over the Memorial Day weekend and by the time the responded it was too late.

From the hatchery:

" Did she have any runny/bloody poop or pasty bottom? It sounds like it could have been coccidiousis but I am not 100% sure about that. If it was that it is not contagious to the other chickens however, stress does affect chickens at different rates so keep an eye on them and if you start to see any signs of runny poop or weekness you will need to start medicine. You can use Sulfadimethozine or Sulmet. Both of these can be found at your local feed/farm store usually in the cattle isle."

From myself:
"She didn't have abnormal poop, and her bottom was completely clean. She also didn't seem to have respiratory issues. She seemed clumsy when we got her, and then she became weaker and weaker. It became more apparent as the other chicks became stronger. I am really hoping that whatever was wrong is not contagious. The other chicks have looked strong and healthy with clean bottoms. Are there any other conditions that it could possibly be so that I can be on the look out for? The medicine above is only used for coccidiousis, and coccidiousis is indicated by runny, bloody poop?"


Hatchery:
"No that medicine treats coccidiousis, pasty bottom and several other issues as well. The runny poop is just 1 indication of coccidiousis. It really sounds to me that is what she had. All chickens have this but it don't become active in some like it does others. There is many things that can make it become active. I always explain it like this: We as humans all have germs in our body. Sometimes those germs become active and make us sick and sometimes they do not. The chickens are the same way. I don't think you will have anything to worry about with your other chickens. If they were going to get sick you would most likely see signs of it already but if they do start to get weak just start the medicine and it will clear up. Have a great day!"

I hope that this helps you, and that your chicken begins to thrive!

 

[momofaflock]

Tonkagirl, how is the little one doing? I also received our chicks on Tuesday from the hatchery, and I have one lavender Orpington acting the same as yours. She is sleeping ALOT, and is not thriving like the others. I've tried nutri drench and save a chick.

 

[snow5164]

I also got my chicks Tuesday and I had one not thriving. I was told by an experienced egg man

to feed her a hard boiled egg white, hold her in your hand and see if she eats it. On day 2 I added her crumble to the egg and sh again ate a litte. She is fine now I can't tell which on she is. She may not be allowed to eat because everyone else is stronger and faster. Good luck hope this helps. Also do you have anything in the water?? I'm using super starter from the feed store.

 

[TonkaGirl]

Thanks everyone for the advice. Sadly the little chick passed away that night. After she passed I felt her abdomen and it felt like there was a very hard circular mass….maybe it was her stomach and for some reason nothing was able to pass; her vent was completely clean. All the others seem well, but just to be safe I switched them to medicated chick starter incase of coccidiousis.
She would take a few sips of sugar water each time I offered. And I scrambled up an egg for her, which she wouldn't eat on her own.

I hope everyone else's chicks are doing well.

And thanks again for all the advise! I'm sure I'll need it again in the future (but hopefully not).

 

[snow5164]

Oh my , I'm so sorry . I'm trying to not get attached to mine but I know I am . Seeing them suffer is hard . I was told by my feed store that to loose 2 out of ten is normal .
Soon we'll be putting them out side right? And on to the next chapter .
Mine are getting awfully noisy and running around flapping their little wings .
Let's talk more

 

[chickensforkids]

So sorry for your loss. It is so hard to lose one. Hopefully the others will continue to thrive.

 

[TonkaGirl]

Thank you snow5164. This was the first chick I have lost….I have lost quite a few older hens to foxes and one to a hawk…I keep the local wild life well fed! Its so hard to not get attached to those cute little fluff butts! I currently have an older hen who has stitches from a fox encounter, thankfully I was home and the dogs where able to scare it away! She is doing great now! I've had several chickens for about 3 years now and still feel like an amateur chicken farmer. haha. Glad to hear your little ones are doing well!

 

[TonkaGirl]

Thank you chickensforkids!