What's wrong with my chick!?

[katieoverton]

We have 5-6 week old chickens we got 2 days ago. This is our first experience with chickens so we have very little knowledge I what to look for. One of them has been in the same spot all day, she's not moving around at all. She will hold her head up and look at me when I open the coop but that's it. She's not coughing or wheezing and as far as I can tell she doesn't have diarrhea. We looked her over this morning and didn't see anything concerning. Could she be stressed about the new environment or something else? What are some things we need to like for to tell if something is wrong? TIA!!

 

[katieoverton]

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[MrsBrooke]

She could be stressed, yes. You can give her some chick electrolytes or Pedialyte. That may perk her up.

She could also have Coccidiosis.

Is she eating and drinking at all?

In addition to the electrolytes, I would grab some Corid 20% powder or 9.6% liquid from Tractor Supply or your local feed store.

Dosage:

1.5 teaspoons (NO LESS) per gallon of water of 20% powder.
2 teaspoon per gallon of water of 9.6% liquid.

Make sure this is the ONLY water they can access for 5-7 days. Treat all birds.

After the Corid, run some chick vitamins through their water to round out the treatment.

Hope that helps!

MrsB

 

[katieoverton]

I'm not sure if she's eating or drinking. My husband is headed to TSC to get some Corid and bedding so we can move her inside to watch her. When I go out to check on her she's still in the same spot but she'll stand up and look at me if I talk to her. Her feathers look a little fluffed out as well.

 

[MrsBrooke]

I'd skip the bedding and keep her on paper towels to monitor her poops for now.

Offer her some boiled eggs to see if she has an appetite.

MrsB

 

[katieoverton]

Ok will do. She's inside now. We gave her some electrolytes. I checked her over really good and still don't see anything that would be concerning. She's breathing fine and chirping a lot, she just acts like she wants to sleep all day. Someone at the CO-OP said she could just be a lazy bird.

 

[MrsBrooke]

No such thing as a "lazy" bird like that... If a chick isn't running around, scratching, and pooping everywhere, something is amiss.

The first thing to check for would be Coccidiosis. Stress from moving can cause minor issues to suddenly take over, like a wicked little protozoa living in the intestines.

How are her poops looking, if she's allowed any?

MrsB

 

[katieoverton]

She seems to be doing much better. She's eating and drinking and her poops look normal. She still seems to be content just laying in the sun and napping throughout most of the day. Compared to the other birds she's not as active.