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11:17 pm
May 14, 2011
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One of my girls is acting very weak and lethargic. She is 5 weeks old and today she was lying in the back of the coop, feet stretch to the side. All the others were in the run. We pick her up and she was wobbly on her feet so we put her next to the food and water. Then after reading Backyardchickens.com I'm very scared she is really sick so we have put her in a cat crate and isolated her from the other girls. She was vaccinated for Mereks at the hatchery and they are on medicated chick feed. Any advice/ suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Can we save her? Should I worry about the others?
11:56 pm
February 10, 2009
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It's good that you've isolated her, now hopefully you'll be able to get a look at her poo, which will tell you more, and keep water within her reach. If she's not eating regular feed, …or maybe even if she is, offer her some yogurt and or applesauce or other soft food, keep her out of direct drafts and hope for the best is all I can advise you. There's probably more specific info over at BYC and you can post in their "sick chicken" area. They have more people there who are used to advising people about things like this.
So far you're doing all I would. I hope she gets a little better by morning. 5 weeks is still pretty young, and it's not unusual to still lose weak ones for odd reasons. One of the sad parts about keeping chickens.
3:03 pm
June 12, 2011
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Oh, that's too bad. I've only had chickens for two years so I don't really know what to do beyond what you've done, but I thought I'd just say that I've had a chick nearly pecked to death at one day of age, and she recovered really fast and is a gorgeous pullet today. Chickens are way hardier than you would imagine sometimes. Hope your little chick pulls through! 
3:12 pm
May 14, 2011
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Thanks for the info Buckeye Girl and thanks for the encouragement chickenherd. Well she slept in the cat crate last night and did make it through the night.
Today we put the cat crate in the brooder to see if she would like more room to move around. Sheimmediately came into the brooder and is eating her crumbles and her poop looks normal but she still isn't very active. So she is still under observation. I'm going to try and give her some yogurt as suggested and keep hoping for the best. I'll keep you all updated.
10:43 pm
July 17, 2011
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If she is not better by tomorrow, I would go to a Tractor Supply or farm store and get some electrolytes (Sav-a-Chick) for her water. You could also boil some eggs and mix it with the yogurt.
Also, check her crop to see if it feels distended, hard or mushy. Impacted or sour crop can make a young chick really sick. You can smell her breath and sometimes tell if they have sour crop.
Keep her isolated from the others until she is completely back to her old self. I have read some real sad stories on BYC about the chicks that have been vaccinated for Mereks. Seems they have more problems than non-vaccinated chicks.
Best of luck and I am hoping that this is just a scare and she will be back to full health very soon.
11:14 pm
May 14, 2011
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Thanks Wildflower.
She is acting much better she's walking around and she ate her yogurt, finally. She even sound happier. :) I'm hoping she's on the up swing, I will check her crop in the morning if she is acting weak again.
~Kat
10:07 am
May 14, 2011
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Morning update:
Can chickens get constipated? We woke up to our little chick is acting like her old self but found a very large hard chicken poop in her crate. 
I think we will be putting her back with her sisters today because she is looking lonely and keep an eye on her in her normal habitat. Thanks for all you help and advice.
10:15 am
February 10, 2009
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Well, yeah! I suppose so! Great news Kat. I'm glad she's doing so much better, and yeah, as long as she's drinking and eating normally, (and pooping of course) the sooner she gets back to the flock, the less likely the other hens will pick on her.
1:04 pm
May 14, 2011
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Well she seems to be completely back to normal, she is back outside with her sisters and acting as crazy as the rest of them. Which I taking as a good sign. Thanks for all the info and encouragement.
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