Warm boot recommendations please

[SeramaSilly]

Hi there,

Very sad day today. I went in to check on my week old serama chicks and one was dead - very recently because it was still warm.  I'm worried about another one now as she/he seems not to be busy like the remaining other two. Can you give nutridrops to a chick the size of a cotton wool ball? 

 

 

[mullethunter]

 I’m not sure about that but if you think it’s going to die anyway it might be worth it. How old are they?

[SeramaSilly]

A week and a half old

[SeramaSilly]

I'm really struggling as well with the two mums kicking the aubiose into their chick feeder and their water.  I've ordered a nipple waterer so I could put that on a box and that will sort that problem out but I still have the problem with the feeder.  Every time I check on them the water is full of aubiose and ditto the chick crumb.  I've just cleaned it all out and put in kitchen towel to see how they get on with that.  Sometimes I think it would have been easier not to have hatched them the old fashioned way because I wouldn't have the mums kicking the bedding everywhere (and sometimes kicking a chick too if it doesn't get out of the way sharpish)!!  The chick that didn't look right does look a bit better now though - so fingers crossed! 

[mullethunter]

Do they all smell OK? Don’t want to worry you but I’ve been reading loads about all the awful things that can be set newly hatched chicks - ‘mushy chick’ can kill them in the first couple of weeks - think it’s basically bacterial infection - and they would normally smell bad. 

Other than that I guess it’s possible that it was dehydration - I reckon swapping the aubiose for kitchen paper will sort that out.

Fingers crossed for your chicks x

[SeramaSilly]

4 minutes ago, mullethunter said:

Do they all smell OK? Don’t want to worry you but I’ve been reading loads about all the awful things that can be set newly hatched chicks - ‘mushy chick’ can kill them in the first couple of weeks - think it’s basically bacterial infection - and they would normally smell bad. 

Other than that I guess it’s possible that it was dehydration - I reckon swapping the aubiose for kitchen paper will sort that out.

Fingers crossed for your chicks x

I've just had a sniff and no they don't smell bad.  I'm checking on them ALL the time now! xx

[The Dogmother]

Try not to worry.

Yes, NutriDrops can be given to teeny chicks, but dilute it 50/50 first. When I worked with Nettex to develop this, it was based on a 'kick starter that they make for lambs and one for puppies. The formula was adjusted for it to be used on avians, but the concentration needs diluting for little chicks. Likewise, the Vit Boost can be diluted right down in their water if you have sickly chicks. I always give broody hens some NutriDrops as they need all the help they can get after denying themselves feed while they brooded.

I hope they all thrive.

 

[SeramaSilly]

1 hour ago, The Dogmother said:

Try not to worry.

Yes, NutriDrops can be given to teeny chicks, but dilute it 50/50 first. When I worked with Nettex to develop this, it was based on a 'kick starter that they make for lambs and one for puppies. The formula was adjusted for it to be used on avians, but the concentration needs diluting for little chicks. Likewise, the Vit Boost can be diluted right down in their water if you have sickly chicks. I always give broody hens some NutriDrops as they need all the help they can get after denying themselves feed while they brooded.

I hope they all thrive.

 

Thank you DM.  The chick that I was worried about seems to have picked up now so fingers crossed.  One of the mums kicks the chick feeder to spill onto the floor and then furiously kicks the aubiose around and calls to the chicks to eat the crumb even though there is obviously plenty in the feeder.  I've seen her kick a chick (obviously not intentionally) across the indoor rabbit hutch I have them in and I'm not convinced that she didn't actually trample the chick that died.  So what with that and her continually messing up the drinker and feeder I've now separated her even though I feel really mean because she is desperate to be with them!  Just to clarify I had two hens went broody at the same time and they hatched them together and up until now she really has been a great mum.

Edited June 14, 2020 by SeramaSilly
Missed something out

[SeramaSilly]

Meant to say - I took all the aubiose out and laid kitchen towel down instead - but it made no difference! 

[The Dogmother]

Aubiose or Aubichick is fine for little uns. You may need to raise the drinker very slightly so that they can still reach it, but she can't kick stuff in as easily. I think she's just being an overly conscientious mum.

[SeramaSilly]

25 minutes ago, The Dogmother said:

Aubiose or Aubichick is fine for little uns. You may need to raise the drinker very slightly so that they can still reach it, but she can't kick stuff in as easily. I think she's just being an overly conscientious mum.

Thanks DM but I do raise it and she still manages to kick it in and I can't raise it too high because the tiny chicks can't get to it and also I'm worried that she's going to hurt a chick so I've separated her from them. They have the other mum who is much more laid back.

[mullethunter]

Hard as it is watching the frantic mum be frantic, seeing as you have the option of just letting the calmer hen do the job I think that’s what I’d do rather than risk the chicks getting trampled.

[SeramaSilly]

1 hour ago, mullethunter said:

Hard as it is watching the frantic mum be frantic, seeing as you have the option of just letting the calmer hen do the job I think that’s what I’d do rather than risk the chicks getting trampled.

Thanks Mullet - I thought so too.    Calmness reigns in the nursery again and the three chicks seem to be ok - fingers crossed.  x