Worried about chick...what Ive done and any advice greatly appreciated

wbruder17

Songster
9 Years
Jun 7, 2010
1,661
19
153
Portland, OR
My D'Uccle pullet began acting strangely, mostly yesterday. I have been following her around and here's what I noticed:
1. She is lethargic, wanting only to sleep in the sun. Mostly stands and is puffed up, but does move around a little.
2. Drinking plenty but not eating. Poop=water.

I have been giving them lots of grass clippings, that I thought I had cut into small enough pieces, but perhaps not.they also get layer pellets (this bag the pellets look much larger) and a multi-grain mixture as well. My first instinct said a crop irritation. She does not have any respiratory sounds that I can hear, her eyes are clear and so is her nose. She pecks around like she wants to eat, but then decides to sleep instead.

What I've done:
1. Massaged her throat/belly, which she seemed to like. Crop did not seem full/hard, but things were moving in a downward motion as I massaged.
2. Gave her a small dose of veggie oil through a tube down the back of her throat, so I didn't drown her.
3. This morning she is in her own crate, but still inside the run. She has some canned sweet corn, which she was eating, as well as some white bread soaked in yogurt.

She did not seem much improved this morning when I checked and will need to wait til after work to check again. She does want to go out with the other chickens, but then acted antisocial, so I segregated her.

Any suggestions? None of my other birds are acting this way and my coop/run is VERY clean.
 
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Is she old enough to lay? I've seen this behaviour in two of my girls after they've had laying issues (soft shell and no shell). They would puff up and stand by themselves, sometimes facing a corner, and want nothing to do with the rest of the flock. They had no interest in their favorite treats either. After a couple of days they're back to their old selves. I hope she feels better soon!
 
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