Eglu Go With 2m Run For Sale

[Isobel]

...has anyone had this experience before? One of my seven chicks (nearly 4 weeks) has been rejected by mother hen and driven out of the community ruthlessly! She wouldn't let it into the nesting area or near her or the food. She took all the others into the nest box and left it stranded outside. It was breathing rather heavily (I thought it was sobbing!!) and I heard it sniffle. I think it perhaps has a cold and she knows it's unwell and wants to keep it away from the others?

 

I couldn't bear its distress and put it with one of my quail ladies for a while. Now it's dark I have popped it back under it's mother's wing and she didn't really notice.

 

I'm wondering if I should have left it alone, maybe I've just given them all a cold! Can you do anything about chicken sniffles in the very young?

[chuckmum6]

I guess mum knows something is wrong with it and is probably protecting her brood against it and possible infection. It may seem harsh, but it may not be a chick that will survive and she is doing what comes naturally - culling it. Sorry to not be more positive.

[miller30]

It wouldnt hurt to put a bit of herban in their water its brilliant stuff leanne

[Isobel]

It was an outcast again this morning bless it. I can't bear to see it so distressed and have popped it in with a couple of lady quails again (the boy quail kept mounting it so I had to separate them!). I don't have herban but have put poultry tonic in the drinker, not sure if it's suitable for chicks but how much worse can it get. I gave it hard boiled eggs and it ate ravenously so I am hoping it will get better. Maybe it's the one I helped out of its shell at hatching time !! Thanks for your help

[Isobel]

The chick that got rejected on Friday by its mother is currently living in a hamster cage in my utility room because I was worried that if I left it with the Lady Quail brigade and it was poorly it might infect them as well. So it is all on its own, and it is cheeping piteously constantly and clearly desperately wants to hear some chicken language! It is definietly poorly as I can hear it sniffle occasionally and I would say it is breathing harder that it should do, but apart from that it eats with gusto and drinks well so I am hoping it will get over whatever it's got. Is it important for it to hear the other chicks and the mother? I am worried that if it gets too depressed and miserable it will throw in its little tiny towel! I brought it in because now it has no mother I didn't want it to get cold. Do you think I should try to cage it alongside the others outside?

[Purplemaniacs]

We had one chick that hatched 4 days before the others so was on its own for a while, it would cheep very loudly if my OH or I went out of sight. We gave it a teddy for company. As yours is now without mum does it have some heat? I have no experience but I am sure there is someone on here who has raised a single chick.

 

Good luck I hope it makes it, fingers crossed for you.

 

Chrissie

[Redwing]

The little thing will be working extra hard to keep going so if you can provide it some extra heat that will help, placing the cage near a heater or adding an anglepoise type light over it (40/60w bulb) would be good. A small cuddly toy/bobble hat/mophead will make a good foster mum

 

It could be that its lungs arent fully developed. sniffles in very young chicks are quite rare really so its likely to be a physical problem not an infection

 

if it clicks when it breathes its not good news

 

You could get it to a vet and ask for antibiotics to see if that will help. If it survives and when fully recovered you will not be able to put it back with the broody so will need to remove another to be its buddy (but dont do that while its sick)

[Isobel]

Thank you for your advice. It is really strong looking and gobbles everything I offer it despite the occasional sneeze, so I am optimistic that it should make it, fingers x'd. I will find it a woolly hat - hope it takes to it!! Thanks everyone.