Sick Chick

Wrigley62

Wrigley62

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I have a sick 4 week old RI Red. She stands with her eyes closed, alot. She will move when startled, and I have also seen sit for a while. I have all my chickson medicated starter feed. I haven't seen any drainage from her eyes and I'm not sure about her stool. She is equal in size and weight with the others. The gentleman from Agway told me to give them an Electrolyte, but, that she will probably pass in the next 2 to 3 days. Any ideas, ASAP Please. It is Thursday April 12, 2012. Thank you,

Wrigley
 
When you say medicated do you mean chick crumb with ACV Wrigley? Because the first thing I though of was Coccidiosis and you would see blood in the poos, in fact it will be all blood. I treated ours successfully with large amount of natural yoghurt with probiotic -crop full.

Possible crop bound due to eating feathers. Check for a firm lump and if so give tiny amount (0.1 mL?) Olive Oil and them gently massage. Repeat massages as often as possible and more oil every day. In this case there will be no poos at all.
 
Blood in the poos occurs very quickly with chicks with Coccidiosis and they are dead in a couple of days. Cream colour is the urine Wrigley. So the soilds component is missing and she isn't eating so it sounds like crop bound. Have you checked her crop? Is the feed a part bag bought from CWFS or similar merchant with a hand written identification on the plastic bag?
 
I checked her crop, it feels soft, not hollow, almost like a marshmallow. I can't get her to eat. The feed is called Blue Seal from Agway. Just so you know, this is my first set of chickens in about 20+ years and the last ones were for meat, so, I'm a novice. I listen to the guys at Agway and do what they say. I do take very good care of my "Girls". I didn't ask alot of questions about the medicated feed, I just buy it 10 lbs. at a time. No written instructions. I was able to get her to drink some of the electrolytes last night. Can I "Force" feed her? I feel like I'm running out of time. I feel bad, but, may be this is just "Natural Selection".
 
Wrigley some chicks just don't thrive and it could be that this is one of them. Feeding them medicated crumb doesn't mean they won't get Cocci, just that is less likely they will get it. My first thoughts when you posted were cocci.

By the sounds of things her system is not functioning well, so perhaps it is time to let her go. It's sad and disappointing when things go wrong, but we can only try so much. Quality of life for the little one has to be taken into account too.

Others may not agree with me, as it is natural for us to try every which way to keep a bird alive and going, but there comes a point when you have to make a decision. It's not an easy one and I feel for you.
 
I think you're right, I do believe I've done all I can do, considering I just noticed this 2 days ago. I want to thank you and chrismahon. I don't know too much about poultry, but, if there is anything I can do please let me know. [email protected] fb Wrigley Bynum.

Thanks guys,

Wrigley
 
I agree with Philcott. Sounds like a possible sour crop type reaction to something that the others are immune to and she may well always be succeptable to illness. She could have developed wrongly or has eaten something too solid and her system is blocked. Or she could have Coccidiosis. I'd give her a shot of probiotic natural yoghurt and if no response in 24 hours that's it. The chick we treated like that, which was pooing just blood and the vet declared terminal, recovered quickly, is now 4 and a half and lays when she feels like it.
 
My Sick Chick just died. I went down to check on her and she was just standing there so I picked her up and held her for a while, then she just died. I know she was just a chicken and I only had her for about 4 weeks but I still feel very sad. I hate this part.
Thanks Phil and Chris.
Keep in touch [email protected] and fb Wrigley Bynum
Thanks again

Wrigley
 
I am so sorry Wrigley, it does happen but always sad when you lose a young chick. :(

How are the others getting along?
 
So sorry to hear the sad news about your chick Wrigley, hope the others are doing well though.
 
Sorry she didn't make it Wrigley. You can concentrate your attention on all the others now. Hope they are all well and pictures would be good.
 
Thank you all for your concern. The others are doing just great. I took them outside in their Tractor on Saturday, it was in the high 70's. I kept them out of the wind and in full sun. They really seemed to enjoy themselves. It was thier first time out.
Does anybody have any advice on Grit??? I've been told you can give it to them as soon as five days up to eight weeks. My main guy ant Agway, (that's our feed and grain store) said he has never given his chicks/chickens any grit ever. I guess I can wait til they get out into their coop, then they can get it as needed.
I tried to down load some pictures, but, they won't take. Too many pixels. Any advice??
Thank again to all.
Keep in touch, I'll do the same :)
 

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With regard to your question on chick grit, I have never fed my chicks or growers grit. Some people do some don't I guess opinions will differ! :D

If they are young and just on chick crumb they shouldn't really need grit at this stage. Grit in the form of small stones are used by a chickens stomach to grind food down in order for absorption in the gut to take place. Pelleted feed is easily absorbed, but mixed corn for example would need to be broken down by the muscular stomach or "gizzard" as it's commonly called.
 
I wasn't sure, I took them out for the first time. I just wasn't sure if I should have given them grit, I know they were eating some small greens and may be a few bugs here and there. They're still on starter feed so i'm not going to worry too much right now.
 

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They are lovely Wrigley. I don't give chicks grit at all they don't need it. Add grit at about 8 weeks when they shift to rearer/grower pellets and I start giving them mixed corn as a treat. As Foxy says the gizzard holds grit to grind down difficult to digest stuff like corn, until then they don't need it. You can get grit in different sizes for chicks, through growing and then for adults. I have only seen the adult stuff here. Problem is in a small bird the large bits may block the gizzard, so best avoided when they are young in my opinion.
 
Thanks Chris, I think they are too. I've become very attached to them. I find myself in the garage watching and talking to them for long periods of time. I sure hope this attachment doesn't fade too much.
I know I've said it befor, but, you , Foxy and Phil have been very helpful, and I thank you.

Talk to you soon Wrigley
 
I do offer chick grit as I feed mine a little mixed corn from a young age. Those reared with a broody who is having mixed corn could do with some too.
 
Thanks Chuck, I took the girls out yesterday and while they were scratching around, i slipped some grit in their food.
At what age can I start giving them "Scratch", corn and other food??

Thanks,

Wrigley
 
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