Weird behavior in baby chicks

[wendigo]

There are 6 chickens about 4 weeks old. The problem is that one of them started acting weird since this morning. I think she eats and drinks normally but other than that all she does is stay and look around. The other chickens are active, they run and they keep busy. When I try to grab them all run except her. Now here's the twist. They were 9 in the beginning. 3 of them died and they all had this same behavior. I looked all over the internet but I can't find anything. They don't have any bumps on them, the poop looks normal, they are warm... they just look like they have no energy. I bought vitamins and other things the woman that sold them to me recommended. One mistake was that I think I did was taking them outside about 1 week ago.. but they weren't cold as the temperature was like 30C+.

If anyone has experienced anything like this, please help.

EDIT: And one thing I forgot. The 3 chickens that died earlier this week seemed like they stopped growing even though they were eating and drinking normally. This one doesn't seem to have this problem at the moment. And I'm afraid that another one starts to look drained of energy too.

 

[polarbearpilot]

Very strange. I don't know what's wrong, so can't offer anything. I hope your chick won't die. Please update and let me know how it's doing.

 

[wendigo]

Today they are fine. They are acting normal again. My NEW problem is with 2 new chicks I got yesterday (3 days old.) They won't eat and drink. All they do is sleep.

 

[dmack]

Add some Braggs raw apple cider vinegar to their water. A table spoon to a gallon. They love the taste may make them drink more. They may just need some time to catch up on some sleep

 

[Natalijaasbj]

I think you might want to "help" them drink - you do not want them to get dehydrated. If you take a dropper with water in it( or even Pedialyte - it helped my chicks in times) and start dropping ON THEIR BEAK( not in their beak) they will already get some liquid)Or you might just dip their beaks in the water(pedialyte).
As for feeding. I had a problem with 4 days old chick when I got him. He would sleep all the time and did not seem to eat well the crumbs. I got an advice - to soak crumbs in the water a bit, so they are looking more like a porridge( not so dry). It helped him a lot. He started eating immediately.
BTW, I ferment feed for them right now, as I heard fermenting help them to get more nutrients from less amount of feed. I also have a choice of dry crumbs( in case somebody does not like fermented feed).
If they do not eat at all - start giving them some Corn Syrup( called "Karo" in stores) - it can get them going for food.
Let us know how it is going,

 

[wendigo]

I gave them to drink just like you said. They drank almost a full syringe each. One of them started eating again and drinking on his own, but he still seems kinda dizzy. Every time he tries to scratch or stretch he has a hard time balancing or he falls. As for the other one, I think he won't survive. He can't drink on his own, he tries to eat but it looks like he doesn't know how.. he keeps dropping the feed from his beak. He sits down and falls asleep almost permanently now and it's harder and harder to wake him up.

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Did you try giving him a wet mash instead? (as I said it helped the chick I had who was sleepy and week the first days). did you try to do Pedialite?

 

[Natalijaasbj]

Yes and forgot to ask - do you have 95F in the brooder?

 

[wendigo]

They are under the lamp as we speak. They still seem to be cold though.. whenever I get close to them they start trying to jump out of the box and won't stop untill I grab them and hold them in my hand. I saw them trying to eat today but I can't tell if they swallow or just poke with their beaks.

 

[Natalijaasbj]

I am asking about temperature because when I just got 3 days old chicks I thought I will not need the thermometer. I put lamp too high though and they were cold. I called the breeder he said - make sure they are 95F, because it is important. So I went and got myself chip Thermometer, and the temperature was waaaay too low, although it seemed too hot for me.
If they are trying to eat - it is a good sign. Try mash and see if they will do better with it.
LEt us know how it goes.