4 day old chick is sick
One of the chicks I hatched out last sunday has suddenly become ill. Yesterday it seemed totally fine but today it is laying dow, wings spread out and eyes closed. When it tries to move it cannot balance and falls over.
It was the smallest of the chicks and came from a significantly smaller egg, but as I said it seemed to be thriving until today.
Does anyone have any idea?
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Oh poor wee thing, hope it makes a full recovery.
Ossierooney
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 is it pasted up
cwfarm
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Timing is right for starve-out, did you ever see this chick eating?
Susan Mc
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Could it be in a draught and got chilled.
Rho b
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 The brooder box is in a spot with no draughts, it's not pasted and I've seen it eat. Though none of them seem to eat an awful lot.
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 At least I think I've seen it eat, I'm pretty sure I've seen it pecking at the chick crumb.
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Try to make sure it,s eating/drinking although that sounds obvious i know sometimes you can miss one thats off both.
Have you seen it poo,check its bum might be bunged up,give it a rub of a soft piece of towel with quite warm water and lastly i would check the temperature of the brooder to make sure it,s not too hot,spread wings like that can be a sign of trying to cool itself down.
Possible too it,s just a runt and won,t thrive as quick as the others.
Jemsey
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 I know when I have chicks I get each one individually and dip their beak into the food and water a few times a day. Also I find that if you can get a very small crumb chick feed for the first few weeks. Fancy fowl chick feed do a small crumb but not sure if it is still available locally. Luckily, --even though I shouldn't say this (tempting fate!) I have never lost a chick.
ele
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 that was the same with my chick too
pamahony
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 smithcity what breed of a chick is it reason i ask is if its a bantam chick i found the normal chick crumb is too large for it as ele said if you have a pepper corn mill grind up a bit to a dusty grain.Only thing is and cruel as it sounds chicks do die esp. runts or ones that took too long to pip out i know i sound cruel but the more you hatch the more you will notice this will happen to the odd chick.
brian k
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Nothing cruel about it Brian unfortunately its a fact of life if you breed poultry.
Jemsey
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Oh i know that Jemsey with livestock you will have deadstock
brian k
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 It's not a bantam, they are large fowl Frizzles Brian. As the day has moved on, two more of them seem to be showing signs of being listless and under the weather.
The first one that hatched has also grown a lot more than the other three and though I'm sure I've seen the others pecking at the food, they definitely don't go near it as much the biggest fella so I've mixed up a bit of chick crumb in water and am syringe feeding the weaker ones. Hopefully they will perk up
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 do they look like they are too warm SC have they room to move away form the heat?
brian k
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Yeah they have loads of room to get away from the electric hen but they stay underneath it the whole time.
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Sorry to hear all is not well, hopefully the syringe feed gets results.
If they are huddled under the electric hen maybe you could lower it - usually its a sign they are cold.
cochin
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 I have it at it's lowest on one end and it's second lowest setting on the other end and the chicks seem to like it best in the middle so I don't think heat is an issue.
They seem to be perked up a little since being syringe fed twice tonight. Hopefully I'll see some real improvement tomorrow
smithcity
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 Well that's good news.
cochin
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 I should also compliment you on the drawings - they are very good.
cochin
Thursday, February 9th, 2012 if they re not eating properly you can get them to peck at the food if you tap something like a ball point pen or similar in the food to simulate a hen pecking if you put the food in something hard that makes noise it works better ,it'll kick start the peck reflex in the chicks when they hear it
landkeeper
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
As landkeeper suggests. I used drop crumb onto a sheet of paper in front of them to urge them to be interested. Just a couple of pinches. And pick it up and do it again.
Hopefully its that they hadnt eaten properly. I would doubt coccidiosis this early and as its your first hatch Im sure their brooder conditions are perfect and not old poos in corners or anything.
Keep trying to dip their beaks in water even just to wet their mouths.
Really hope they get on alright for you
( as an after thought....not being sarcastic but are you sure theyre not just sleeping. I remember first time I noticed my chicks spread flat on the floor with necks extended. Thought my kids had killed them!!! They were just sleeping. It looks really weird. Anyone else notice this? Ill see if I have a pic of them at it somewhere)
Mary O'D
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Are their bellies swoolen?
Louth Chucks
Friday, February 10th, 2012 I cover the food trays with tinfoil to start them off as they peck at anything that is shiny.Have you checked the crop ,to see if they are eating?
Simon Carter
Friday, February 10th, 2012 http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/189316/the-sleeping-chicks
only found this but of course doesn't explain them being unable to walk right
Mary O'D
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Thanks for all the responses guys. No I'm certain they weren't sleeping.
Louth chucks, no bellies are not swollen.
Simon, the crops seem to be empty on the 3 sick birds, whereas the big lively fella has a full crop.
They seemed to perk up quite a bit last night after being syringe fed but today they seem to be back to square one. In fact the chick that originally caught my attention seems to be weaker than ever.
I've syringe fed them again and I'm going to be here for the rest of the evening so I plan to keep feeding them at regular intervals. If it is a starvation issue I would expect to see them perk up again a while after being fed.
smithcity
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Ah best of luck with it.. i hope they hang in there.. Its so gutting!
Louth Chucks
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Its down right sickening when they obviously are getting care! Hopefully its a food problem
Mary O'D
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Adam, no offence but twice a day is not near enough to feed them. If they were weak lambs you would have to feed them every three to four hours minimum, small amounts often. Hope it helps but if they are not grubbing up for themselves then it does not sound promising at this stage.
Rho b
Friday, February 10th, 2012 I've been feeding the weak ones every few hours since yesterday evening. The one that got sick first is in very bad shape now which is frustrating considering that it seemed to perk up a bit after feeding last night. The other two seem to be a bit better but still aren't 100%.
The big fella is still in great form and full of life which suggests that the problem is not a communicable disease, I'm pretty sure that they simply weren't eating properly.
smithcity
Friday, February 10th, 2012 smithcity boil up an egg and crumble it up it a little crumb it will go them a world of good
brian k
Friday, February 10th, 2012 I'll give that a go Brian.
smithcity
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Totally agree with brian, smash up a boiled egg put it in a saucer and pick at it with your finger, the chicks should run to it. Did you pick up the chicks and dip their beaks in water? Don't be afraid they need to know where the water is, they don't like it but they know where it is immediately after you do it. Good luck, you had a good hatch - let us know how it goes.
Lin
Friday, February 10th, 2012 Hi Sc, any update on chicks.
cochin
Saturday, February 11th, 2012 was just thinking the same Cochin, How are they doing since???
Mary O'D
Saturday, February 11th, 2012 Well I'm afraid the two weakest ones have since died. The one who has been healthy all along is growing at a fantastic rate, and I doubt the brooder box will be able to contain it before long.
The other chick who is still not 100% seems to be improving, I've been feeding regularly and it seems to perk up from time to time and then get weak again. It's certainly nowhere near as bad as the other two were so I'm hoping that if I continue to feed it there will be a definite improvement, it's not growing at anything like the same rate as the healthy chick. Fingers are crossed.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Aw, really sorry to hear that, your doing all you can for them anyway. Best of luck with your remaining 2.
Mary O'D
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Hi SC, sorry to hear that, and best wishes with the third one.
cochin
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Are those chicks from your own eggs SY or from eggs you bought in ?
Jemsey
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Best of luck with the two. It is all a learning curve and the curve just keeps going in a circle!. I assume you are trying to get the chick to eat on its own accord at the same time as syringe feeding it?.
ele
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Thats a pity, fingers crossed the other weak one will pull through.
Rho b
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 @ Jemsey, they were eggs I bought in just so that I could test out my new incubator as my own breeding stock aren't in lay yet.
I bought the eggs from someone that I bought a live bird from last year and she has always been 100% healthy so I doubt that there are any problems in that regard.
@ Ele, I've been trying to get it to eat, dipping its beak in the water drinker and into the feeder, aswell as tapping at it's feed with the syringe I've been using to feed it and though it does make the occasional pecking motion it doesn't seem to be showing much interest in feeding itself.
Having said that, today the chick is as strong as an ox, though the difference in size between that one and the chick who has been healthy all along is astonishing, you wouldn't believe they were from the same hatch.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Ah that's a bummer, smithcity. Hope the other one keeps improving.
Elizabeth
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 I think the final hurdle is just to get it to feed itself. It just doesn't seem to have the instinct for it whereas the other chick from the same hatch is scratching about in the litter, eating and drinking and jumping up on top of the electric hen and making the occasional bid for freedom from the brooder box.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Bad luck smithcity, but you've experienced the worst that can happen. We had a powercut here for 8 hours once that wiped out my entire batch of eggs in the incy. Very gutting, and as it was my very first attempt I was convinced the second time around it wouldn't work, but it did. So now I'm just a marginal wreck when it comes down to day 21 and not a gibbering headcase!
Lin
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 I was just trying to figure out other reasons why the chicks did,nt/are,nt thriving SY but if you,re happy that they came from a good reliable source then health issues with the parent stock can more or less be ruled out.
Could be just a case of eggs being taken from stock that are,nt quite bursting with health at this early stage of the season,just a thought.
Jemsey
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 I don't know what to think Jemsey, it seems very odd that 3 out of 4 chicks just wouldn't be able to figure out how to eat.
The chick that I'm feeding seemed very strong this morning, but now it's not very steady on its feet. I wonder if the stress of being picked up and syringe fed every few hours is negating some of the benefits of the nutrition and slowing it's recovery.
I'll just have to wait it out and see.
I'm sure that if it had been caused by a transmittable disease the healthy chick would have caught it too by now.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Smithcity, I'm sure you realise this, but you can't feed this chick by hand for much longer, you can see for yourself how much behind it is compared to the other chick. It really needs to learn how to feed itself, and in my experience it should have learned that on day 2 or 3, the window may have passed. It may just be a dummy that will never learn to eat, and eventually starve, strange indeed that you would have 3 dummies, I don't know why that would be. But I do think you're fighting a losing battle there. You may have to think about getting a companion for your well chick if you haven't one already.
Susan Mc
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Damn, that's a major concern then. If this chick doesn't survive is the healthy chick just going to pine away without company?
I doubt I'd be able to buy such a young chick at portlaoise next weekend. If worst comes to worse would it be feasible to bring in one of my little pekin hens and stick her in the brooder box too?
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 smithcity what part of the country are you in maybe someone has chicks of same age close to you i know there is normally one person who sells young chicks like that at portlaois (something i dont thats right but thats for another day)if your near me i might be able to help you out
brian k
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 No it won't pine away, but it'll get lonely by itself, chicks aren't meant to live solo. It'll be a big hassle for you to step in as its nanny-companion-whatever you want to call it. If one of your other hens will take on that role, it would be better raised as a chicken then a human. Or ask around here if someone has a spare chick this early in the year, someone might be able to help out. But give your second chick a chance, keep on trying to teach it to eat, just be prepared if it doesn't make it.
Susan Mc
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 @ Susan. I've got it to the stage where it will peck at bits of crumb from my hand but it just drops food again each time. I've started to drop bits of crumb into its mouth and make sure it swallows rather than syringe feed the chick crumb paste.
It's very frustrating considering that it should be able to do all this by instinct.
@ Brian, I'm in Clara in Offaly. As you say yourself I don't agree with people selling chicks that aren't off heat yet and to be honest I don't think it's allowed at portloaise. I don't know anyone else with chicks at the moment, my cousin who usually breeds has decided to move from chickens to pheasants this year.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 Was wondering if you did anything different when moving chicks into the brooder?. Chicks get a chill very easily, I remember reading some place.
Wait and see what happens and if needs be maybe someone on here has some chicks. If that happens and there is anyone around Portlaoise that has any I can bring any to Clara anytime as I commute to Tullamore every day.
ele
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 I can't think of anything I did differently. For the first few days they did seem totally fine, and I have the brooder box set up in my sitting room where it doesn't get cold.
The one who is still healthy was the first chick to hatch so I presume it was always going to be the most vigorous.
I'm after giving them a bit of crumbled up boiled egg, the weak chick gave it a couple of cursory pecks and ate a tiny bit but just isn't showing the same interest in feeding as the other chick which is constantly scratching about.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 SC one thing ill say to you it takes very little food for the chick to live i have 14 week old chicks at the minute and id barley notice what they all ate out of the feeder at the minute.If the chick was mine id be encouraged by the progress espceailly the fact it took a bit of the egg.
brian k
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 I was a bit encouraged, at least now I know that it's not totally clueless and that it knows how to eat.
The other thing I've noticed is that over the last few days it has been continually calling, making a sort of distressed chirping noise whereas today it's making more normal noises like the other chick.
Hopefully my next hatch will be a bit more by the book.
smithcity
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 That's encouraging then! Here's hoping he keeps improving, and the next hatch isn't such a trial for you.
Susan Mc
Sunday, February 12th, 2012 hi smithcity
im a few miles away in tyrrellspass i have a few eggs due to hatch tomorrow 14 feb
you are welcome to a companion for your chick (that is if they hatch)
they are buff orpingtons
contact tony 0863722499
cwfarm
Monday, February 13th, 2012 Cheers cwfarm, PM'd you. I'm still holding out hope for the fella I have though.
smithcity
Monday, February 13th, 2012 By the way, here are a couple of photos showing the difference in size and development between the healthy and the weak chick;
Healthy chick;
http://imgur.com/a/A1nat#1
Weak chick;
http://i.imgur.com/tEJVHh.jpg
Also, regarding the curl in the feathers of the healthy chick. Is that the normal shape of developing feathers or is it the frizzle gene already expressing itself?
smithcity
Monday, February 13th, 2012 Hi Sc, my what a difference.
Are you still feeding the weak one or is t feeding now for it self.
cochin
Monday, February 13th, 2012 hi i had 6 chicks hatched on xmas day.they are polish,now 6weeks later 1 was a bit poorly, i gave a little tylan in a syringe trickled very very slowly down its throat [ wasnt drinking] so no point putting it in the water, its expensive to buy , but in powder form it lasts for ever, and i always have it to hand,it works miracles,even with older hens, alittle bio yogurt at the start is really good for their gut, i fed it from a teaspoon to make sure they ate it also tapping is great to encourage them to feed, it mimics mother hen , they need to have feed freely available at all times.tylan can be purchased from the vet and no egg withdrawal is necessary. ba
badgerhill101
Thursday, February 16th, 2012 Is the small chick still with you Smithcity?
Susan Mc
Saturday, February 18th, 2012 do you not inject the tylan ?
hunt
Sunday, February 19th, 2012 no ofence badger put giveing a 6 week old bird tylan is that the only thing that you know. do you know wat was wrong with the bird in the first place or was it GET THE TYLAN out quick its all i have and it works miracles. for any new poultry keepers out there do not put tylan down chicks troats find out first wat is wrong with the chicks. if you have to get tylan you are in big trouble
hunt
Sunday, February 19th, 2012 No I'm afraid not Susan. It died on wednesday, finally ran out of steam. Around the same time though another guy on the forum, Gary, had a power loss to his brooder box and was also left with one lone chick so he kindly offered it to me as a buddy for my own. I picked it up on friday and they are getting along the finest, though mine is a week older and gigantic next to it!
smithcity
Sunday, February 19th, 2012 Ah, I remember reading about that, too bad luck for you both, but glad the 2 survivors getting along :)
Susan Mc
Sunday, February 19th, 2012 Unfortunately it's not all plain sailing. The new chap has a crippled leg and has a bit of difficulty moving around but as long as they keep each other company I'm happy.
You weren't joking when you said that being mother hen to a lone chick was a lot of work! For the couple of days that the chick was alone it wouldn't stop loss calling from the beginning of the day to the end, the only time it was happy was when I opened the lid enough for him to fly out, then he would come straight across the room and climb onto my shoulder and relax. Every time I put it back in the box, it would start loss calling again until he could get back out.
smithcity
Sunday, February 19th, 2012 Good luck with them SY,hope they are both pullets.
Jemsey
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
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4 day old chick is sick
One of the chicks I hatched out last sunday has suddenly become ill. Yesterday it seemed totally fine but today it is laying dow, wings spread out and eyes closed. When it tries to move it cannot balance and falls over.
It was the smallest of the chicks and came from a significantly smaller egg, but as I said it seemed to be thriving until today.
Does anyone have any idea?
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Oh poor wee thing, hope it makes a full recovery.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
is it pasted up
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Timing is right for starve-out, did you ever see this chick eating?
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Could it be in a draught and got chilled.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
The brooder box is in a spot with no draughts, it's not pasted and I've seen it eat. Though none of them seem to eat an awful lot.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
At least I think I've seen it eat, I'm pretty sure I've seen it pecking at the chick crumb.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Try to make sure it,s eating/drinking although that sounds obvious i know sometimes you can miss one thats off both.
Have you seen it poo,check its bum might be bunged up,give it a rub of a soft piece of towel with quite warm water and lastly i would check the temperature of the brooder to make sure it,s not too hot,spread wings like that can be a sign of trying to cool itself down.
Possible too it,s just a runt and won,t thrive as quick as the others.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
I know when I have chicks I get each one individually and dip their beak into the food and water a few times a day. Also I find that if you can get a very small crumb chick feed for the first few weeks. Fancy fowl chick feed do a small crumb but not sure if it is still available locally. Luckily, --even though I shouldn't say this (tempting fate!) I have never lost a chick.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
that was the same with my chick too
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
smithcity what breed of a chick is it reason i ask is if its a bantam chick i found the normal chick crumb is too large for it as ele said if you have a pepper corn mill grind up a bit to a dusty grain.Only thing is and cruel as it sounds chicks do die esp. runts or ones that took too long to pip out i know i sound cruel but the more you hatch the more you will notice this will happen to the odd chick.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Nothing cruel about it Brian unfortunately its a fact of life if you breed poultry.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Oh i know that Jemsey with livestock you will have deadstock
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
It's not a bantam, they are large fowl Frizzles Brian. As the day has moved on, two more of them seem to be showing signs of being listless and under the weather.
The first one that hatched has also grown a lot more than the other three and though I'm sure I've seen the others pecking at the food, they definitely don't go near it as much the biggest fella so I've mixed up a bit of chick crumb in water and am syringe feeding the weaker ones. Hopefully they will perk up
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
do they look like they are too warm SC have they room to move away form the heat?
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Yeah they have loads of room to get away from the electric hen but they stay underneath it the whole time.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Sorry to hear all is not well, hopefully the syringe feed gets results.
If they are huddled under the electric hen maybe you could lower it - usually its a sign they are cold.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
I have it at it's lowest on one end and it's second lowest setting on the other end and the chicks seem to like it best in the middle so I don't think heat is an issue.
They seem to be perked up a little since being syringe fed twice tonight. Hopefully I'll see some real improvement tomorrow
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Well that's good news.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
I should also compliment you on the drawings - they are very good.
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
if they re not eating properly you can get them to peck at the food if you tap something like a ball point pen or similar in the food to simulate a hen pecking if you put the food in something hard that makes noise it works better ,it'll kick start the peck reflex in the chicks when they hear it
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
As landkeeper suggests. I used drop crumb onto a sheet of paper in front of them to urge them to be interested. Just a couple of pinches. And pick it up and do it again.
Hopefully its that they hadnt eaten properly. I would doubt coccidiosis this early and as its your first hatch Im sure their brooder conditions are perfect and not old poos in corners or anything.
Keep trying to dip their beaks in water even just to wet their mouths.
Really hope they get on alright for you
( as an after thought....not being sarcastic but are you sure theyre not just sleeping. I remember first time I noticed my chicks spread flat on the floor with necks extended. Thought my kids had killed them!!! They were just sleeping. It looks really weird. Anyone else notice this? Ill see if I have a pic of them at it somewhere)
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Are their bellies swoolen?
Friday, February 10th, 2012
I cover the food trays with tinfoil to start them off as they peck at anything that is shiny.Have you checked the crop ,to see if they are eating?
Friday, February 10th, 2012
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/189316/the-sleeping-chicks
only found this but of course doesn't explain them being unable to walk right
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Thanks for all the responses guys. No I'm certain they weren't sleeping.
Louth chucks, no bellies are not swollen.
Simon, the crops seem to be empty on the 3 sick birds, whereas the big lively fella has a full crop.
They seemed to perk up quite a bit last night after being syringe fed but today they seem to be back to square one. In fact the chick that originally caught my attention seems to be weaker than ever.
I've syringe fed them again and I'm going to be here for the rest of the evening so I plan to keep feeding them at regular intervals. If it is a starvation issue I would expect to see them perk up again a while after being fed.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Ah best of luck with it.. i hope they hang in there.. Its so gutting!
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Its down right sickening when they obviously are getting care! Hopefully its a food problem
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Adam, no offence but twice a day is not near enough to feed them. If they were weak lambs you would have to feed them every three to four hours minimum, small amounts often. Hope it helps but if they are not grubbing up for themselves then it does not sound promising at this stage.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
I've been feeding the weak ones every few hours since yesterday evening. The one that got sick first is in very bad shape now which is frustrating considering that it seemed to perk up a bit after feeding last night. The other two seem to be a bit better but still aren't 100%.
The big fella is still in great form and full of life which suggests that the problem is not a communicable disease, I'm pretty sure that they simply weren't eating properly.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
smithcity boil up an egg and crumble it up it a little crumb it will go them a world of good
Friday, February 10th, 2012
I'll give that a go Brian.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Totally agree with brian, smash up a boiled egg put it in a saucer and pick at it with your finger, the chicks should run to it. Did you pick up the chicks and dip their beaks in water? Don't be afraid they need to know where the water is, they don't like it but they know where it is immediately after you do it. Good luck, you had a good hatch - let us know how it goes.
Friday, February 10th, 2012
Hi Sc, any update on chicks.
Saturday, February 11th, 2012
was just thinking the same Cochin, How are they doing since???
Saturday, February 11th, 2012
Well I'm afraid the two weakest ones have since died. The one who has been healthy all along is growing at a fantastic rate, and I doubt the brooder box will be able to contain it before long.
The other chick who is still not 100% seems to be improving, I've been feeding regularly and it seems to perk up from time to time and then get weak again. It's certainly nowhere near as bad as the other two were so I'm hoping that if I continue to feed it there will be a definite improvement, it's not growing at anything like the same rate as the healthy chick. Fingers are crossed.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Aw, really sorry to hear that, your doing all you can for them anyway. Best of luck with your remaining 2.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Hi SC, sorry to hear that, and best wishes with the third one.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Are those chicks from your own eggs SY or from eggs you bought in ?
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Best of luck with the two. It is all a learning curve and the curve just keeps going in a circle!. I assume you are trying to get the chick to eat on its own accord at the same time as syringe feeding it?.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Thats a pity, fingers crossed the other weak one will pull through.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
@ Jemsey, they were eggs I bought in just so that I could test out my new incubator as my own breeding stock aren't in lay yet.
I bought the eggs from someone that I bought a live bird from last year and she has always been 100% healthy so I doubt that there are any problems in that regard.
@ Ele, I've been trying to get it to eat, dipping its beak in the water drinker and into the feeder, aswell as tapping at it's feed with the syringe I've been using to feed it and though it does make the occasional pecking motion it doesn't seem to be showing much interest in feeding itself.
Having said that, today the chick is as strong as an ox, though the difference in size between that one and the chick who has been healthy all along is astonishing, you wouldn't believe they were from the same hatch.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Ah that's a bummer, smithcity. Hope the other one keeps improving.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
I think the final hurdle is just to get it to feed itself. It just doesn't seem to have the instinct for it whereas the other chick from the same hatch is scratching about in the litter, eating and drinking and jumping up on top of the electric hen and making the occasional bid for freedom from the brooder box.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Bad luck smithcity, but you've experienced the worst that can happen. We had a powercut here for 8 hours once that wiped out my entire batch of eggs in the incy. Very gutting, and as it was my very first attempt I was convinced the second time around it wouldn't work, but it did. So now I'm just a marginal wreck when it comes down to day 21 and not a gibbering headcase!
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
I was just trying to figure out other reasons why the chicks did,nt/are,nt thriving SY but if you,re happy that they came from a good reliable source then health issues with the parent stock can more or less be ruled out.
Could be just a case of eggs being taken from stock that are,nt quite bursting with health at this early stage of the season,just a thought.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
I don't know what to think Jemsey, it seems very odd that 3 out of 4 chicks just wouldn't be able to figure out how to eat.
The chick that I'm feeding seemed very strong this morning, but now it's not very steady on its feet. I wonder if the stress of being picked up and syringe fed every few hours is negating some of the benefits of the nutrition and slowing it's recovery.
I'll just have to wait it out and see.
I'm sure that if it had been caused by a transmittable disease the healthy chick would have caught it too by now.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Smithcity, I'm sure you realise this, but you can't feed this chick by hand for much longer, you can see for yourself how much behind it is compared to the other chick. It really needs to learn how to feed itself, and in my experience it should have learned that on day 2 or 3, the window may have passed. It may just be a dummy that will never learn to eat, and eventually starve, strange indeed that you would have 3 dummies, I don't know why that would be. But I do think you're fighting a losing battle there. You may have to think about getting a companion for your well chick if you haven't one already.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Damn, that's a major concern then. If this chick doesn't survive is the healthy chick just going to pine away without company?
I doubt I'd be able to buy such a young chick at portlaoise next weekend. If worst comes to worse would it be feasible to bring in one of my little pekin hens and stick her in the brooder box too?
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
smithcity what part of the country are you in maybe someone has chicks of same age close to you i know there is normally one person who sells young chicks like that at portlaois (something i dont thats right but thats for another day)if your near me i might be able to help you out
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
No it won't pine away, but it'll get lonely by itself, chicks aren't meant to live solo. It'll be a big hassle for you to step in as its nanny-companion-whatever you want to call it. If one of your other hens will take on that role, it would be better raised as a chicken then a human. Or ask around here if someone has a spare chick this early in the year, someone might be able to help out. But give your second chick a chance, keep on trying to teach it to eat, just be prepared if it doesn't make it.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
@ Susan. I've got it to the stage where it will peck at bits of crumb from my hand but it just drops food again each time. I've started to drop bits of crumb into its mouth and make sure it swallows rather than syringe feed the chick crumb paste.
It's very frustrating considering that it should be able to do all this by instinct.
@ Brian, I'm in Clara in Offaly. As you say yourself I don't agree with people selling chicks that aren't off heat yet and to be honest I don't think it's allowed at portloaise. I don't know anyone else with chicks at the moment, my cousin who usually breeds has decided to move from chickens to pheasants this year.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
Was wondering if you did anything different when moving chicks into the brooder?. Chicks get a chill very easily, I remember reading some place.
Wait and see what happens and if needs be maybe someone on here has some chicks. If that happens and there is anyone around Portlaoise that has any I can bring any to Clara anytime as I commute to Tullamore every day.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
I can't think of anything I did differently. For the first few days they did seem totally fine, and I have the brooder box set up in my sitting room where it doesn't get cold.
The one who is still healthy was the first chick to hatch so I presume it was always going to be the most vigorous.
I'm after giving them a bit of crumbled up boiled egg, the weak chick gave it a couple of cursory pecks and ate a tiny bit but just isn't showing the same interest in feeding as the other chick which is constantly scratching about.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
SC one thing ill say to you it takes very little food for the chick to live i have 14 week old chicks at the minute and id barley notice what they all ate out of the feeder at the minute.If the chick was mine id be encouraged by the progress espceailly the fact it took a bit of the egg.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
I was a bit encouraged, at least now I know that it's not totally clueless and that it knows how to eat.
The other thing I've noticed is that over the last few days it has been continually calling, making a sort of distressed chirping noise whereas today it's making more normal noises like the other chick.
Hopefully my next hatch will be a bit more by the book.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
That's encouraging then! Here's hoping he keeps improving, and the next hatch isn't such a trial for you.
Sunday, February 12th, 2012
hi smithcity
im a few miles away in tyrrellspass i have a few eggs due to hatch tomorrow 14 feb
you are welcome to a companion for your chick (that is if they hatch)
they are buff orpingtons
contact tony 0863722499
Monday, February 13th, 2012
Cheers cwfarm, PM'd you. I'm still holding out hope for the fella I have though.
Monday, February 13th, 2012
By the way, here are a couple of photos showing the difference in size and development between the healthy and the weak chick;
Healthy chick;
http://imgur.com/a/A1nat#1
Weak chick;
http://i.imgur.com/tEJVHh.jpg
Also, regarding the curl in the feathers of the healthy chick. Is that the normal shape of developing feathers or is it the frizzle gene already expressing itself?
Monday, February 13th, 2012
Hi Sc, my what a difference.
Are you still feeding the weak one or is t feeding now for it self.
Monday, February 13th, 2012
hi i had 6 chicks hatched on xmas day.they are polish,now 6weeks later 1 was a bit poorly, i gave a little tylan in a syringe trickled very very slowly down its throat [ wasnt drinking] so no point putting it in the water, its expensive to buy , but in powder form it lasts for ever, and i always have it to hand,it works miracles,even with older hens, alittle bio yogurt at the start is really good for their gut, i fed it from a teaspoon to make sure they ate it also tapping is great to encourage them to feed, it mimics mother hen , they need to have feed freely available at all times.tylan can be purchased from the vet and no egg withdrawal is necessary. ba
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Is the small chick still with you Smithcity?
Saturday, February 18th, 2012
do you not inject the tylan ?
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
no ofence badger put giveing a 6 week old bird tylan is that the only thing that you know. do you know wat was wrong with the bird in the first place or was it GET THE TYLAN out quick its all i have and it works miracles. for any new poultry keepers out there do not put tylan down chicks troats find out first wat is wrong with the chicks. if you have to get tylan you are in big trouble
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
No I'm afraid not Susan. It died on wednesday, finally ran out of steam. Around the same time though another guy on the forum, Gary, had a power loss to his brooder box and was also left with one lone chick so he kindly offered it to me as a buddy for my own. I picked it up on friday and they are getting along the finest, though mine is a week older and gigantic next to it!
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Ah, I remember reading about that, too bad luck for you both, but glad the 2 survivors getting along :)
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Unfortunately it's not all plain sailing. The new chap has a crippled leg and has a bit of difficulty moving around but as long as they keep each other company I'm happy.
You weren't joking when you said that being mother hen to a lone chick was a lot of work! For the couple of days that the chick was alone it wouldn't stop loss calling from the beginning of the day to the end, the only time it was happy was when I opened the lid enough for him to fly out, then he would come straight across the room and climb onto my shoulder and relax. Every time I put it back in the box, it would start loss calling again until he could get back out.
Sunday, February 19th, 2012
Good luck with them SY,hope they are both pullets.
Sunday, February 19th, 2012