momagain, that was so sad!
was just about to say below. always have moist feed for dehydrated or weak chicks. always have wet feed ready for shipped chicks, and make them drink before eating too.
another thing for weird sleeping positions is to check temp. move them under heat source when nthey do that.
wont be responding here much for a while- trying to be careful with carpal tunnel syndrome.
What has helped my little ones that were slow to start is I would mix chick feed with water to make it like a gruel. I make it so it is a little runny. This way when they do take some in they get both nutrition and fluid. I add some vitamins to it. You could try some sav-a-chick usually found at feed stores or poly-vi-sol without the iron. If you would happen to have pedialyte on hand you could try that for the electrolytes. I would hold them and put the mixture on a spoon and dip their beaks in it to encourage them. Hopefully once they figure it out they will start to eat on their own but it could take a few days, several times a day until they are eating enough on their own.
I am so sorry you lost so many and hope the remaining pull through! Keep us posted on how they are doing!
Edited by Kev - 4/2/12 at 12:57am
