Possibky sick chick

[Kittykat352]

Two weeks ago I bought 8 chicks and 2 ducklings from Tractor Supply. I had been housing them in a plastic tub with a heat lamp, but my chicks have started to fly a bit, so we moved them to an enclosed rabbit cage. I noticed yesterday one of my chicks was squinting and not eating or drinking just hiding under other chicks, or under the shelf that we set the food on. Today I moved the chick to a box alone while my son cleaned out the cage, and we put some water and food in with the chick. It did not eat or drink just stood and chirped loudly. It either squints or closes its eyes, and holds its wings down. It is noticeably thinner than the other chicks including the one just like it. What could be wrong with my chick and what do I need to do to help it. I have it still in the box sitting on the cage, so it can still get heat from the heat lamp. I'm not sure if I should keep it separated or put it back with the others. Any help is appreciated.

 

[alinas2010]

Hello, I’m really sorry to hear your chick isn’t feeling well. How is she doing now? A lot of questions apologies in advance.

What do this chick’s droppings look like? Does the chick eat anything else besides chick pellets? Is the chick’s crop empty in the mornings? What is the temperature in the brooder and are you using a red light or a regular light?

 

[Kittykat352]

Hello, I’m really sorry to hear your chick isn’t feeling well. How is she doing now? A lot of questions apologies in advance.

What do this chick’s droppings look like? Does the chick eat anything else besides chick pellets? Is the chick’s crop empty in the mornings? What is the temperature in the brooder and are you using a red light or a regular light?

We have the red light. I don't know what the temperatures is. Indont have a thermometer in the cage. The get chick starter feed we bought at tractor supply. I haven't eeen it's individual droppings as it's in with the others. Currently it's still in the box sitting on top of the cage, so it's still benefitting from the heat lamp. The cage they are in now is a 2 level rabbit cage. It's a brand new cage I had bought to separate my male rabbit from my female, but we got the chicks and these are growing way faster than the last time I had chicks. I moved almost 2 years ago, so it's been about 3 years since I've had baby chicks. My first time raising chicks and 2 ducklings coyotes broke into my coop and killed all my young chicks and ducklings. I had just put them outdoors at 8 weeks and 2 nights later the coyotes struck. So I've got a better set up this time. We have 8 adult hens and I just got a 19ft coop run for them which my son will be putting together next week. Once these are big enough to go out we will section off a corner for them until they're as big as the hens. My husband thinks she may be dehydrated. I don't have syringe, so I'm gonna get one and see if I can get some water in her that way.

 

[alinas2010]

Do you have some electrolytes you can try to get into her? Even something like Gatorade, pedialyte or a homemade electrolyte mix will work. Gently dip her beak into it or dribble a little onto the top of her beak so the drips roll into the crevice where her top and bottom beaks meet.

Have you seen any droppings with blood in the brooder at all, whether they may be hers or not? Check really well. Is her crop flat or full?

I’m going to tag some educators to help further, but it’s important that you check for bloody droppings and check her crop and let us know how they are. @azygous @Wyorp Rock @Eggcessive