4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[lynnyloon]

Hi,

I was given 1 day old chicks, 1 looked really week and dispite all my efforts it died, the 2nd one seemed to go the same way very rapid and that died on friday

I now have one left and it seems to be strong but it is squawking alot and doesn't seem to settle down unles i hold it. I was wondering if anybody could advise me what to do

 

Thanks

Lynette

[Falkor]

Sorry to hear about your losses.

 

What is your set up for the remaining chick? Do you have it in a brooder with heat?

 

Em

x

[Chook n Boo Mum]

My gut reaction is get it some friends, but unless you know what killed the other two this may not be a wise move...for now keep the babe warm under a lamp & give it a cuddly toy to snuggle up with as cuddling it all day is not always possible, make sure everything is scrupulously clean & feed it with medicated chick crumb, do you have any Coxoid http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Coxoid_112_ml.html in case it is cocci?

Don't let the little one get dehydrated either, that can be fatal really quickly

 

Have you any symptoms besides being weak that would help others to recognise the problem?

 

I hope everything goes well for the little survivor

 

A more experienced chook bod is bound to be along soon,

 

Sha x

[tom123]

Fantastic advice there from Sha, couldn't have put it better myself!

 

Good Luck

Tom

[Redwing]

Good advice from Sha, I would suspect Coccidiosis - blood in their poo is a classic sign so check for that

 

Also if they drink cold water it can make their bottoms 'clog up' you will see a plug of poo on its bottom, you'll need to soak it away with warm water - dont pull at it!

 

These are the two things I would check for first

[lynnyloon]

Hi Em

Yes all the chicks we're put under a brooder light, in a large box so they can retreat from the heat

 

Lynette

[Falkor]

That is the first base covered then.

 

I would have a look at WildMum and Redwings posts as they would be my next thoughts too.

 

Snuggles and positive vibes being sent to your little one.

 

Em

[lynnyloon]

Hi Sha

 

Thanks for the advice, i was thinking about a cuddly toy, i will deffo try that.

The only symptoms the other 2 had we're like they we're gagging all the time i was giving them a drink by hand and i was told to give them a little egg white

 

Lynette

[Egluntyne]

I wouldn't give them egg white!

 

All they need at this tender age is clean water and chick crumbs.

[Griffin]

Chicks can eat mashed up hard boiled egg. Earlier on this year I lost three chicks to Coccidiosis and the sick ones who survived were refusing to eat chick crumb. A few small meals of hard boiled egg did perk them up enough to make them start eating properly again.

[TAJ]

Chicks can eat mashed up hard boiled egg. Earlier on this year I lost three chicks to Coccidiosis and the sick ones who survived were refusing to eat chick crumb. A few small meals of hard boiled egg did perk them up enough to make them start eating properly again.

 

If these are gagging I would suggest it is blocked food. Personally I only give chick crumb - give them anything else and they will need chick grit to help digest it or they are likely to choke to death.

 

Tracy

[ChrisEllis]

Hi All good information here, wanted to give some advice that i have found out, make sure they are drinking, if you spend 10 minutes with themevery now and again and if they dont touh the drink we always found once they hatched if we wet or finger and rub it gently on their beak they try to drink and we tap the water and they soon get used to it - once one has got the hang of it they all do but still teach them all to be on the safe side, also feed just chick crumb i would say, it gets too complicated feeding chicks different types of food like what had been said above, and generaly keep them clean and ake sure they are warm enough, but ifyou only have one left i would try and get it a friend thats as close to its age as possible - give or take a few days - literally...i hope my advicve is valid, please anyone who doesnt agree quote me

 

Thanks,

 

And sorry to hear about your chicks

[TAJ]

In terms of drinking (ChrisEllis above) I was always told (and have followed the advice) as you put them in the brooder dip their beaks into the water to encourage them to drink. I have done this with my day olds and those from the incy and it seems to work. Plus I always use Battle's poultry drink in the water of young birds - until at least 10 weeks old.

 

Tracy

[thebdj]

The beak-dipping mentioned above is spot on. If you are putting more than one into a brooder at the same time then as soon as one gets it, they will all learn from each other. Recently, I had my fun with the little Poland chicks (see posts!). I put them in with some 2 week old RIRs and they learned from them immediately.

 

Justin