Emma Miriam
Chirping
I received four chicks from My Pet Chicken four weeks ago. All were very healthy and active. All four were vaccinated for Mareks, are being fed medicated Purina chick starter, and have been getting Sav-a-chick probiotics in their water. Today, one of them, the Welsummer, seems very off. I had been playing with the chicks and watching them earlier today and noticed that while the other three were dustbathing in their little box in the brooder, the Welsummer (Willow) was sitting under the Premier heat plate. I didn't think anything of this.
A couple hours ago, I noticed that Willow was not very active and was sitting puffed up, so I watched her more closely. She is lethargic, and on the roost I noticed that she was rocking up and down while breathing. I went to pick her up and she moved away from me fairly quickly, so she is responsive. I picked her up and held her. Her eyes and nares are clear, her vent is clear. Her poop is watery, but contains normal fecal matter (white and brown) and is not bloody. I'll attach a picture in a minute. In the last two hours, she has not eaten or drank, though she has walked by the waterer (Brooder bottle cap) several times. Her not drinking is what concerns me most.
She does walk around a bit. She went to roost earlier, though it seemed more like she was trying to find a peaceful spot away from the other chicks. They are not pecking at her but sometimes disturb her sitting. She has crossed the brooder several times to peck in the dirt in the dust bath box several times, and she pecks at the ground and preens herself a bit. Mostly, though, she sits puffed up and closes her eyes.
What do you think this could be? Could it be coccidiosis, even though her poo is not bloody and she is on medicated feed? All three of the other chicks are fine.
I will post pictures in a minute. Any help would be extremely appreciated.
A couple hours ago, I noticed that Willow was not very active and was sitting puffed up, so I watched her more closely. She is lethargic, and on the roost I noticed that she was rocking up and down while breathing. I went to pick her up and she moved away from me fairly quickly, so she is responsive. I picked her up and held her. Her eyes and nares are clear, her vent is clear. Her poop is watery, but contains normal fecal matter (white and brown) and is not bloody. I'll attach a picture in a minute. In the last two hours, she has not eaten or drank, though she has walked by the waterer (Brooder bottle cap) several times. Her not drinking is what concerns me most.
She does walk around a bit. She went to roost earlier, though it seemed more like she was trying to find a peaceful spot away from the other chicks. They are not pecking at her but sometimes disturb her sitting. She has crossed the brooder several times to peck in the dirt in the dust bath box several times, and she pecks at the ground and preens herself a bit. Mostly, though, she sits puffed up and closes her eyes.
What do you think this could be? Could it be coccidiosis, even though her poo is not bloody and she is on medicated feed? All three of the other chicks are fine.
I will post pictures in a minute. Any help would be extremely appreciated.
