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Baby Chick not eating or drinking HELP!

post #1 of 16
2/29/12 at 5:51pm
Thread Starter 

We just got home with 11 baby chicks. Should be about 2-3 days old. One is lethargic and not eating or drinking despite being shown where/how. She'll drink if I hold a drop on my finger above her beak. Mostly lays around and have never seen her eating. Any ideas how to get some food in her w/o a trip to the store.

I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

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I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

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post #2 of 16
2/29/12 at 5:54pm

This has happened to me. All four of my rescued chicks died. All of the same symtoms. I still dont know what caused it. I Hope she is okay. May I ask....where did you get them?

Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

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Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

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post #3 of 16
2/29/12 at 5:59pm
Thread Starter 

My Pet Chicken

I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

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I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

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post #4 of 16
2/29/12 at 6:13pm

Well thats odd. He might just not be as strong as the others, it happens ALOT. Is it really cold by you? Could that be it? What you can do is keep her hydrated, and what i did with a hurt hen that wouldnt drink was give it corn water. If you have any frozen corn and you put it in a little dish and put that in the microwave it melts and makes a sweet water. I Hope She Will Be Okay!!!!

 

GOOD LUCK!    

Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

                           ...

Reply

Im the person who has animals adopting me not the other way around. And hey, I've almost got a full on farm! I ended up with chickens on accident .. But I couldn't imagine my life without them. CHECK OUT MY PAGE!!!       
http://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=102103                                                     

 

                           ...

Reply
post #5 of 16
2/29/12 at 6:19pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhook1997 View Post

We just got home with 11 baby chicks. Should be about 2-3 days old. One is lethargic and not eating or drinking despite being shown where/how. She'll drink if I hold a drop on my finger above her beak. Mostly lays around and have never seen her eating. Any ideas how to get some food in her w/o a trip to the store.



Sugar water. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of sugar with some luke warm water in a coffee mug.  Dip the chicks beak in the water until you know it has got a drink.  Do this 2-3 times very slowly.  I had some doing the same thing last week.  I just received an order of hatchery chicks in last week.  I remembered doing this as a child for those chicks that always seemed to not be eating or just laying around sort of limp.  Hope it works for you as well as it does for me!!

 


Edited by bwalden - 2/29/12 at 7:19pm

Owner of Welsummers and French Black Copper Marans

Married to the love of my life and father of two fine boys.

Member of Welsummer Club of North America

NPIP Certified #71-0664

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Owner of Welsummers and French Black Copper Marans

Married to the love of my life and father of two fine boys.

Member of Welsummer Club of North America

NPIP Certified #71-0664

Reply
post #6 of 16
3/1/12 at 4:40pm

mix up some fresh egg yolk in a bottle cap and dip her beak in it continuosly. Put some feed in the yolk after a while when she has a little strength. it works!

If you were plowing a field, which one would you use? Two strong oxen or 1,000 chickens??
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If you were plowing a field, which one would you use? Two strong oxen or 1,000 chickens??
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post #7 of 16
3/1/12 at 5:25pm
Thread Starter 



I've tried dipping her beak with no success. I've mixed the sugar water and actually some disolved "chick starter" and put it in a dropper. She is taking this pretty well but is still very lethargic. Her eyes stay closed and she will not eat or drink on her own. She made it 24 hours this way and has perked up a little this evening. Actually pecked at the dropper! smile.png I guess I'll keep it up though I may try the egg yolk idea someone else mentioned. I try to brace myself for her not making it but the more you work with them the more you get attached!

Quote:
Originally Posted by bwalden View Post



Sugar water. Mix 2-3 tablespoons of sugar with some luke warm water in a coffee mug.  Dip the chicks beak in the water until you know it has got a drink.  Do this 2-3 times very slowly.  I had some doing the same thing last week.  I just received an order of hatchery chicks in last week.  I remembered doing this as a child for those chicks that always seemed to not be eating or just laying around sort of limp.  Hope it works for you as well as it does for me!!

 



 

I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

Reply

I've been called the "Crazy Chicken Lady" We are home to 6 Golden Comets, 3 Black Sex Links, 2 White Rocks, 3 Rhode Island Reds, 2 Gold Wyandottes, 4 Silver Wyandottes, 8 Easter Eggers, 2 Silkies, 2 Brown Leghorns, and 2 Old English Bantams and 2 unknowns! 

Reply
post #8 of 16
3/2/12 at 5:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jhook1997 View Post



I've tried dipping her beak with no success. I've mixed the sugar water and actually some disolved "chick starter" and put it in a dropper. She is taking this pretty well but is still very lethargic. Her eyes stay closed and she will not eat or drink on her own. She made it 24 hours this way and has perked up a little this evening. Actually pecked at the dropper! smile.png I guess I'll keep it up though I may try the egg yolk idea someone else mentioned. I try to brace myself for her not making it but the more you work with them the more you get attached!


 

Well sounds like if your chick dies it wont be from your lack of trying.  You can try all sorts of advise, but the best advise I can give you is just to keep it up.  Sometimes nothing works but sometimes it does work.  I've raised poultry off and on for 30+ years and I remember those chicks that i have pulled back from the brink of death much more so than those that i didnt.
 

 



 

Owner of Welsummers and French Black Copper Marans

Married to the love of my life and father of two fine boys.

Member of Welsummer Club of North America

NPIP Certified #71-0664

Reply

Owner of Welsummers and French Black Copper Marans

Married to the love of my life and father of two fine boys.

Member of Welsummer Club of North America

NPIP Certified #71-0664

Reply
post #9 of 16
3/2/12 at 5:43am

Rub VetRX on there becks!! Put a few drops in there water.

To me, death is a spiritual thing. Everything in life must die. Everything in life, must take life in some form to live. Life begets life. We can't get around it. What we can do is respect that life. Take care of what takes care of us. Treat your food like it will soon become part of you, it will.

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To me, death is a spiritual thing. Everything in life must die. Everything in life, must take life in some form to live. Life begets life. We can't get around it. What we can do is respect that life. Take care of what takes care of us. Treat your food like it will soon become part of you, it will.

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post #10 of 16
3/2/12 at 6:05am

My mail order chicks arrived on Wednesday am.   The PO called me at 7:15, home with them by 7:45.   Ordered 26, received 27.   Three were DOA and since then 5 have died.   4 of them would not eat or drink.   They were very weak.   I tried sugar water and egg yokes, which didn't seem to help.   The last one was eating and drinking, but found dead this morning.    Good luck.   I have not had any luck when they were very weak.

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