Weak & Lethargic (5 Day Old)

[SemperChicken]

So for those who were following my coop log, I mentioned how we were getting 10 more chicks (I think I may have mentioned 9, but I miscounted lol). They have all been doing fine until yesterday where one of my Salmon Faverolles chicks I noticed was just limp on the floor. We just helped it the other day, Thursday, with pasty butt and cleared her up. We came back from the store yesterday after being gone for a good majority of the day (which was a lot longer than expected) and came home to the food and water being dry. This is when I noticed that she was being a little weak, along with one other. We nursed them and helped them get some water in their system and one of the two is doing very well.

I did what I could as far as research and I've tried electrolyte water, I've been holding her all morning to keep her from being trampled on, and she's just being very... "spaztic"... I'll feed her water, she'll sip some and sometimes just spazz out. If I lay her down, she just really flops out of my hand with her legs going whichever way sprawled out. I can put her on her back and she won't be bothered by it. Occasionally she'll open her eyes and I'll whisper to her and say hello, but nothing more as far as actions.

I'm feeling very emotionally bothered by this, like did I do something wrong, but all other 9 chicks including the one we had to save last night are doing fine.

As for my "brooder", we are using a tote right now and will be getting the chicks into their permanent brooder we constructed since we were waiting on buying pine shavings. I change the paper towels that are laid out in the tote a couple times a day. Other than yesterday, I've made sure that they always have water and feed. As for their heat source, we bought an EcoGlow20 since we wanted something more safe (and there were plenty of great reviews for us to spend the money on it).

Aside from being persistent on giving an electrolyte water, is there anything else that I can do? Should I just let it go and if she passes, let it be? We got 3 of the Salmon Faverolles, 1 being the rooster, and I am broken that this is happening. I heard the rooster of this breed is very friendly and docile and I got 2 hens of it because I heard that they tend to be "loners" lol... So I wanted the two to be friends.

Thanks for any input... I appreciate this forum and the wealth of knowledge that it has.

 

[newmarch2014]

I hope your chick is doing better. You can pick up some poly-vi-sol with no iron and give it a vitamin boost. 1 tbs in a gallon is what I think the recommended dose is but you can research it here on the site. Don't beat yourself up, we all misjudge time sometimes and raising chicks is a learning experience for sure. I have learned, dont brinng home chicks till the big brooder is ready AND the coop is built AND the run is covered. You are doing a great job keep trying if she is still going and enjoy the others if not.

 

[SemperChicken]

Thanks. It's hard to explain these emotions... over a chick? It's crazy. Coming from someone who's went to Afghanistan and experienced the war firsthand, and to witness such destruction and death and seeing a fellow Marine die right in front of me as the docs tried frantically to save him... this is just taking a huge emotional toll on me.

Anyway, she didn't make it. I've been holding her (or it could have been the one rooster of the 10, I don't know how to tell) this whole morning cause I just wasn't sure what was going to happen. I saw her open her eyes a few moments ago, labored breathing, as I said to her "you're going to be alright..". And that was it. Going to bury her in the flower garden at the run. I'm just glad the others are doing well, and can't wait to see them grow.

Thanks everyone. Hope everyone enjoys their fireworks this evening =)

RIP Freedom (Salmon Faverolles).

 

[SemperChicken]

So the second Salmon Faverolles chick isn't doing well and I'm assuming the worst. The, what I believe to be the male, salmon faverolles seems to be doing great and is pretty spunky.

Is this breed just not a hardy breed? Was there anything I could have done differently? This second one that isn't feeling well was definitely up and at em this morning while I was holding the first chick that passed. I'm just confused...

 

[newmarch2014]

First...thanks for your service!
Second, I am sorry I know it is tough to the heart to have things that you have held and fed die.
There is a strain of Cocccidosis that sometimes hatchery birds have already when they get to the store for sale. It shows up at about a week old from what so many have experienced. I myself almost lost one of mine last year to what I am almost sure was that. She went downhill fast but once I started her on Corid in a couple days she improved. The usual symptoms are runny poop that eventually gets blood in it but at first it is just runny and particularly foul smelling in my opinion. Then they get lethargic and stand around a lot instead of interacting till eventually they are laying down unresponsive.
I made up Corid water (the stuff i get is a powder in the bovine section of the feed store) one tbs per gallon, and have that be the only water offered for 6 days. Within 2 days with mine (both this year and last) the poop firmed up and they were much more vigorous. You have to mix new each day so 1/2 batch may be enough of the Corid.
To get my weak one that was near death to take some of the treated water in I gave her a tiny little container (think salad dressing from takeout) of the water but floated a pinch of food in it, the movement of the food on the water enticed her to get it and it got both a bite of food and some water in each time, I had to do it over and over the first couple days every half hour or so.

 

[SemperChicken]

I got all 10 of my chicks from MyPetChicken.com, anyone have experience with them?

I'll have to look into Corid. I'm honestly not even sure what exactly it is you're talking about but I'm assuming it's some sort of vitamin? Like electrolyte water or something?

The one that died did have runny poops, but I didn't see any blood. I haven't noticed what poops the second Salmon Faverolles has. She is a bit more responsive than the first, so I'm hopeful.

Thanks for the reply =)

 

[SemperChicken]

I don't think she's going to make it. Going to just hold her till she passes... Sad day.

 

[newmarch2014]

I am sorry, so the ailment I am talking about is Coccidosis, it is the overabundance of a protozoan type of parasite that causes gastrointestinal problems is the gist of it. The Corrid (amrpolium) is a inhibitor for it, it knocks it back to tolerable levels so the birds gut can manage them. That is not the scientific way to explain it but that is the best I can do today. Again am sorry if this one doesn't make it but if that is what the problem is then the others may follow in symptoms. You can get the Corid in various forms depending on where you are from most feed stores in the cattle section. Just search Coccidosis on this site for more and much better information.

 

[SemperChicken]

I see. And no, she didn't make it. This one was worse as far as the heartbreak cause she would squeak and stretch her neck back before being limp again. Anyway, she passed maybe 30 minutes of my last post.

If the other chicks are showing any symptoms, is Corid something I can give the chicks even if they don't have the disease? As in, would it hurt the chicks?

Thank you.

 

[keesmom]

So the second Salmon Faverolles chick isn't doing well and I'm assuming the worst. The, what I believe to be the male, salmon faverolles seems to be doing great and is pretty spunky.

Is this breed just not a hardy breed? Was there anything I could have done differently? This second one that isn't feeling well was definitely up and at em this morning while I was holding the first chick that passed. I'm just confused...

Some hatchery Faverolles do seem to be more frail than other breeds. Also, sometimes chicks just fail to thrive and there is nothing you can do about it.

Are you giving them medicated feed? If so, it already contains amprolium so no need for Corid.