BlueDawnRising
Chirping
- Jan 21, 2025
- 56
- 50
- 61
I am very new to chickens and have one 6 week old chick that I don’t think feels well. We moved 14 of them into what we are calling The Hen Bin on Sunday. I noticed this one (pictures below) standing by herself, in this position, puffed up. When I reached for her, she took a few steps in the direction of the others and resumed this position. She has continued this behavior since, sometimes with her eyes open but often with them closed. I have seen her drink but not eat much. Tonight, while we were offering her water with probiotics, she pooped and it was green (picture below).
Other information:
1. Unsure of breed but wise people here think Welsummer. She was part of an assortment from Hoover’s Hatchery direct mailed as day old chick and was 6 weeks old yesterday. She was vaccinated for coccidiosis and Mereks at the hatchery. Hard to tell if she is thinner than the others but doesn’t appear to be at this time.
2. As far as exact behavior, she really isn’t doing anything-literally. She stands. She will jump up onto the roost sometimes or move under the brooder plate. She will realize she isn’t with the others and move to where they are. She will move to the feeder/waterer and may peck a few times but isn’t eating much when she is there. As I said above, sometimes her eyes are open but most of the time she looks like she is sleeping.
3. She has been exhibiting these behaviors for about 48 hours.
4. Also in the bin are 13 other 6 week old chicks, all from assortments. There are 2 others of her breed and they are all acting normal. Her behavior stands out. There are six 13 week old pullets, separated in a “look but don’t touch” space. The bin is divided in half, big girls on one side, littles on the other. The big girls also are acting normal.
5. I see no active bleeding. There are a few scratches on the top of one foot but nothing fresh and I have not noticed the others picking at her. No injury that I am aware of and doesn’t move as if she were in pain.
6. The only thing I know of that has changed is moving from the brooder to the bin. The temperature in the brooder was around 65 degrees and they only had access to the brooder plate there. Because I am in Illinois and the nights are much colder than that, they have the brooder plate and a heat lamp (I know the dangers, planning to only use it until they adjust) that is on at night, turned off during the day. The bin warms nicely in the sun. No one but her is puffed or huddled when I go out in the mornings.
7. I am still feeding the brand of same chick starter they have had their entire life. It is from a local feed store and is unmedicated, which I understand I needed since they were vaccinated. They have clean water daily, and I put probiotics in when I moved them out to the bin. We dipped her beak in a capful tonight and she would drink when we did. I have also seen her at the waterer but only actively drinking when I first put them in the bin.
8. I am adding a picture of her poop, taken tonight. She dropped it when we were giving her water so I know for sure it is hers. It is green. Her vent is clean.
9. No treatment administered so far except the probiotics.
10. I would like to treat myself but have no idea where to start. This is my first time having chickens so any help is appreciated!
11. As far as bedding, most of what they have in the same pine shavings they always have had. We bale hay and I threw in part of a busted bale but it is mostly on the big chickens side. Fresh bedding was added when the little girls moved in on Sunday. The Hen Bin is an actual old government bin, 14 feet in diameter. It has ventilation at the top and around the roof, as well as around the door. No drafts. Concrete floor with about 4 inches of shavings. There is a wall dividing it, approximately 2/3 chicken side and 1/3 human side made of 2x4s and chicken wire and bird netting dividing the big and little chickens. There is currently no run but we are building one and they have not been out to free range at this time.
I think that is all the information on the “please post this information” page. If I have missed something, please ask. I just want to help her! So grateful for you all!
Other information:
1. Unsure of breed but wise people here think Welsummer. She was part of an assortment from Hoover’s Hatchery direct mailed as day old chick and was 6 weeks old yesterday. She was vaccinated for coccidiosis and Mereks at the hatchery. Hard to tell if she is thinner than the others but doesn’t appear to be at this time.
2. As far as exact behavior, she really isn’t doing anything-literally. She stands. She will jump up onto the roost sometimes or move under the brooder plate. She will realize she isn’t with the others and move to where they are. She will move to the feeder/waterer and may peck a few times but isn’t eating much when she is there. As I said above, sometimes her eyes are open but most of the time she looks like she is sleeping.
3. She has been exhibiting these behaviors for about 48 hours.
4. Also in the bin are 13 other 6 week old chicks, all from assortments. There are 2 others of her breed and they are all acting normal. Her behavior stands out. There are six 13 week old pullets, separated in a “look but don’t touch” space. The bin is divided in half, big girls on one side, littles on the other. The big girls also are acting normal.
5. I see no active bleeding. There are a few scratches on the top of one foot but nothing fresh and I have not noticed the others picking at her. No injury that I am aware of and doesn’t move as if she were in pain.
6. The only thing I know of that has changed is moving from the brooder to the bin. The temperature in the brooder was around 65 degrees and they only had access to the brooder plate there. Because I am in Illinois and the nights are much colder than that, they have the brooder plate and a heat lamp (I know the dangers, planning to only use it until they adjust) that is on at night, turned off during the day. The bin warms nicely in the sun. No one but her is puffed or huddled when I go out in the mornings.
7. I am still feeding the brand of same chick starter they have had their entire life. It is from a local feed store and is unmedicated, which I understand I needed since they were vaccinated. They have clean water daily, and I put probiotics in when I moved them out to the bin. We dipped her beak in a capful tonight and she would drink when we did. I have also seen her at the waterer but only actively drinking when I first put them in the bin.
8. I am adding a picture of her poop, taken tonight. She dropped it when we were giving her water so I know for sure it is hers. It is green. Her vent is clean.
9. No treatment administered so far except the probiotics.
10. I would like to treat myself but have no idea where to start. This is my first time having chickens so any help is appreciated!
11. As far as bedding, most of what they have in the same pine shavings they always have had. We bale hay and I threw in part of a busted bale but it is mostly on the big chickens side. Fresh bedding was added when the little girls moved in on Sunday. The Hen Bin is an actual old government bin, 14 feet in diameter. It has ventilation at the top and around the roof, as well as around the door. No drafts. Concrete floor with about 4 inches of shavings. There is a wall dividing it, approximately 2/3 chicken side and 1/3 human side made of 2x4s and chicken wire and bird netting dividing the big and little chickens. There is currently no run but we are building one and they have not been out to free range at this time.
I think that is all the information on the “please post this information” page. If I have missed something, please ask. I just want to help her! So grateful for you all!
