1 out of the 10 chicks we bought is weaker than the rest.

[katiesue]

Okay, sorry, it looks like the photo of me holding her didn't post... perhaps only one in a post... that's okay. The photo of her standing wobbly is a better one of her anyway!

Now I'm going back to bed until 5:30.

Still hopeful,
Katie sue

 

[katiesue]

I gave her more water at 5am as I had stayed by her box watching her sleep with her sisters.. I checked on her again just now.. 6:30 am. She is sleeping off on her own again, but I can see her breathing, so I didn't bother her this time. I left them all sleeping and will try to get some sleep myself. (What a long night!!)

 

[Eggcessive]

97 is a bit warm. The red brooder lamps get very hot. I feel more comfortable with a temp about 92 the first week, and have a cooler spot in there so they can get away from heat. Dipping the beak into water a few times every hour during the day will get her drinking if she is going to survive. SaveAChick electrolyte/vitamin mix is very good for a couple of days, then change back to regular water. Below is a recipe for homemade electrolytes which can be made in smaller quantities or stored in the fridge.

HOMEMADE ELECTROLYTE SOLUTION
1/2 teaspoon salt substitute*
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon table salt
1 tablespoon sugar
1 gallon water
*Salt substitute is readily available in most stores in the spice aisle near the salt, but if you do not have it, don't worry, the solution will still have most of the benefits intended to combat heat stress.

 

[katiesue]

Okay. She is still with us, but still weak and wobbly. We have continued with the sugar water and she always follows that with a couple pecks at the food. However, we can't tell if she's getting any food. The other chicks have obviously grown in the last 2 days, but I don't think she has at all. I'm thinking of trying this electrolyte recipe. We use sea salt in our home, is that okay?
I've heard of feeding chicks eggs... (would raw egg white be good for her right now? Liquid and easier to swallow? And isn't that the first source of nutrition for a hatching chick?)
I just want to make sure I do everything possible without smothering her.

Thanks again,
KatieSue

 

[katiesue]

A few minutes ago, when I picked her up again, she wasn't opening her eyes this time. Still breathing, and lifting her head, but eyes stayed close. I wondered how much water she's been getting if all she gets is drops off our fingers. So I looked and I found in my kitchen a brand new medicine dropper. I put a little more than 1/4 tsp in the dropper, and counted the drops as I dropped them on her beak as though it were coming off my finer. 10 drops seems to be about 1/4 tsp, and she took about 15 drops, I think! That's more water than she ever took from my finger! By the end of our "water session" she had her eyes open, and stretched out her neck and chirped toward her sisters. So I placed her back in the box again near the food. When my fingers touched her so tiny crop, some water came back out her mouth, but then she lifted her beak and swallowed again. She stood there swallowing for a few more seconds, took one peck at the food, then snuggled up on the food and went back to sleep.

She still responds to the others stepping on her by lifting her head, and sometimes moving away from them a little. But she's so lethargic otherwise.

I'm afraid to try the recipe above without knowing if sea salt is safe to use. I'm afraid to try the raw egg white until I hear it from someone who has more experience with sick chicks and the benefits (or lack of it) of using egg white. We do have fresh eggs that I can use from our 3 yr old production reds.

I may try the molasses with the sugar water.... in about half an hour.... I'll check back here before I do, though. Right now I'll let her nap again.

Cautiously hopeful,
Katie Sue

 

[katiesue]

Alright, ya'll, I think Im losing her. I don't think she'll survive the hour. if that long. She's barely responding to anything. lifts her head when a sister steps on her, but even when I pick her up, she doesn't open her eyes, or chirp. She's too weak to do anything but sleep, and breathing very slow. I don't want to panic and kill her trying to save her... but I'm crying, ya'll!! Over a chick I've had for just 2 days! I knew this might happen, but it's so hard to face.... so very hard. She doesn't seem to be in any pain, just sleepy. That's all she's ever been since we got her home. I think she just might not wake up this time....

 

[katiesue]

By the way, yes, we did check the temperature again this morning. (My 5 year old knew right where the thermometer was, he said he put it safely BEHIND the box.) Under the heat lamp was too hot... over 100 degrees... but one end of the box was 98 and the other end of the box furthest from the lamp was 91. So we raised the lamp, placing it over one END of the box rather than near-center.. and now we have the cool end at 83 degrees and under the lamp is 97. So it is warm, but they have half the box to retreat away from the heat.

Truffles is still breathing. That's it.

 

[katiesue]

Do I dare to hope again? Truffles just jumped up and walked across the box showing an interest in eating!! ?? I quickly mixed a fresh batch of food with the sugar water and placed it before her. She took one peck at it, seemed to get a little something in her beak that she munched for 2 seconds, then went back to sleep again. I thought she was on her last few breaths... I never expected one more glimmer of hope!

Fearfully beginning to hope again....what do I do first?

Katie Sue

 

[katiesue]

It is 4:43pm, and Truffles is still with us! I honestly didn't think she would be. It is time for me to give her water again, so I think I will try to do the molasses this time, as she's been getting the sugar water for a good while now. I need to know that I'm doing something different/helpful, but still cautious about using the sea salt. I'll do molasses this time, and next time, if she's still alive, I'll try the electrolyte recipe.

Thanks again for everybody's help.
I'm going to care for Truffles now. (so thankful that I get to one more time!)

Katie Sue

 

[katiesue]

I woke Truffles and she actually opened her eyes! I gave her molasses... (diluted the way I was told to do the sugar: 2 teaspoons molasses to 1 quart water... as I had no other guide to go by.)
She took about 1/8 tsp of that, and I didn't want to over fill her crop again, so I stopped at that. I placed her back in her favorite warm spot in the box, and she stood for a moment, then layed down and is sleeping now. No efforts this time at pecking her feed. Just drank what I gave her, and back to her sleep again.

Grasping at all signs of life and hope I can find,

KatieSue