Puffed up feathers, heavy breathing, staying in same spot...

[lahaskell]

I have a 3 week old chick that I noticed had its feathers puffed up & wings spread & was breathing very heavily & sitting & staying in the same place in the brooder even when I moved the waterer & feeder around. I thought for sure she would be dead the next day, but this is day 4 & she is still alive. The other chicks look great & are growing well, but this chick is probably only half their size now & still lays around al lot & gets stepped on by the others. Any ideas as to what's wrong with it? Should I remove it from the brooder so it doesn't sicken the other chicks?

 

[Hennigan]

Is it still eating, drinking and pooping normal? Is she getting trampled badly or occasionally? Are her eyes clear- alert? Can she stand on her own or does she have trouble walking? Do you have them on a sort or start and grow feed? Is she still puffy even when under the heating lamp? Is she the same as the others or a different breed or a bantam? Does she have any vent blockage? Is she lethargic?

 

[Hennigan]

If she is getting trampled you should remove her. Hopefully with all the same comforts she has now until you can figure out what's wrong with her and keep her safe.

 

[Haunted55]

Sounds like it could be coccidiosis. Are they on medicated feed?

 

[Hennigan]

But that's all I can think by reading what I have -- maybe with a gentler friend if she's not sick.

 

[lahaskell]

Is it still eating, drinking and pooping normal? I have seen it drink & peck at food, but I haven't watched it poop. Is she getting trampled badly or occasionally? Trampled occasionally I would say. Are her eyes clear- alert? Eyes seem clear & alert, but they were about half shut most of the time for a few days. Can she stand on her own or does she have trouble walking? Doesn't seem to have any trouble walking. Do you have them on a sort or start and grow feed? They are on chick starter/grower. Is she still puffy even when under the heating lamp? Not as much. Is she the same as the others or a different breed or a bantam? I ordered Rhode Island Reds, Black Starts, Red Stars, Pearl White Leghorns & Americaunas. I started with 18 & now have 17. One of the leghorns died the 3rd day. They threw in one bonus bird so this may be the bonus bird & if that's the case I don't really know what breed it is. Does she have any vent blockage? The vent is not blocked. Is she lethargic? I would say it is lethargic in comparison to the others.

 

[lahaskell]

I did put her in a dog kennel in the brooder with the others, but she lurched herself through the slats & I was worried she would injury herself more trying to join the others than if she was just in with them.

 

[lahaskell]

They were vaccinated for coccidiosis & Marek's disease at the hatchery I bought them from. They're not on medicated feed.

 

[realsis]

they can STILL get coccidosis even if they were vaccinated for it if they were exposed to a different strain of cocci that the vaccination did not cover. I believe the vaccine covers SOME strains of cocci but NOT all 9 strains. I would treat with corid which kills all 9 strains of cocci while other meds only kill some strains
you can get the corid at the feed store. best wishes and good luck

 

[lahaskell]

Ok, thank you. I will look for corid. So I am assuming I should feed that to all of them since they've all probably been exposed? I noticed there is some solid poop & some runny poop in there. Could that be a sign?