10 day old chick only eating by pecking food out of other's mouths

[hartyhome]

Hi I am new to raising chicks. We just added two new chicks to our two existing chicks yesterday. All the chicks are just about 10 days old or so. The Olive Egger that we got seems to only want to eat out of the other chicks mouths. Whenever the other chicks head over to eat she is right behind and moves from chick to chick trying to steal the food from their mouths. I have seen her drink water, and I have seen her poop today though she doesn't seem interested in eating on her own. She seems a little more sleepy than the rest. We lost two chicks from our initial four and so I am a little obsessed on making sure they are ok. Has anyone had experience with this? Any suggestions?
Thank you!!!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

We're these chicks hen hatched? Eating out of others mouth can be because that's how mom hens feed chicks. Another reason is because it's a dominant thing.

Generally chicks eat as necessary. Have you smelt the feed? What's the mill date? Make sure it's fresh and smells fresh.

What is the temperature of your brooder?

 

[hartyhome]

Thanks for your help. It is 95 degrees directly under the lamp with room to be in the shade. The food smells fresh and I got it for a local reputable source that is selling a lot of chicks and feed this time of year. The other chicks are eating fine and moving about freely. The Olive Egger did have beak open after a nap under the heat lamp but she got up and moved and I haven't seen that since.
Would you separate them with chicken wire or let them sort it out?
Thanks!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I would lower the heat a bit. At 10 days I generally am brooding at 80-85. Chicks can get heat exhaustion. Lower the heat and see how it goes. I wouldn't separate unless you see excessive aggression.

 

[hartyhome]

Wonderful, thanks for your help!

 

[hartyhome]

Hi Oldhenlikesdogs,

I lowered the temp in my brooder and they seem comfortable. My Olive Egger now just seems less fiesty though she is only eating it seems from other chicks mouths which means she isn't getting nearly the amount of the food the others are. I have tried giving her some moistened food off my finger but she isn't having it. When I first got her she did some head jerking but I read that she may have something in her crop so I made sure she got water. She stopped that. She will pick up wood chips and push her beak around in them but when she gets to the food she just stands there while the others eat. I do think she is getting weaker and sleepier.
I reread your previous answer but I don't believe she would be hen hatched--I could check for sure. Any more suggestions for me?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@Wyorp Rock , do you have any thoughts? Hopefully she will come and give some advice. @Eggcessive might have some ideas too.

I might try some electrolytes to make sure it's getting some source of energy. Otherwise a teaspoon of brown sugar in a quart waterer can be offered too. Sometimes they get so low on energy they don't know what they are doing.

Are other chicks eating this feed? Was it a single chick you got?

 

[hartyhome]

Thanks for your help. I do have electrolytes in their water with a pinch of sugar. Sounds like I should add a bit more sugar. She came with another chick last Friday. Now I have a total of four and the other three are strong and growing and eating the food like crazy. She seemed really weak on Saturday and I ended up giving her raw egg yolk which she ate. Is that okay? I have read mixed things about that. Anyhow after that she perked up. I also put her back on a paper towel and sprinkled food on her which I had seen people do for newly hatched chicks. She started to eat some though not like the others. She still is trying to get it for other's mouths though. I didn't do the egg yolk today. Tonight she is seeming weak again ... and I am considering doing the egg yolk and making sure she is getting water after. It does often seem like she doesn't know what she is doing. She seems younger than the rest but she is supposed to be the same age though of course who knows.

 

[lovingmyhens]

Scrambled egg might be good. Yogurt is good too. You could miss the crumbles with the egg or yogurt

 

[gander007]

Well maybe she was a different type of bird in a former life

Alright she sounds normal I see adults do this ... How about feeding your chicks a boiled egg or you can also scramble it really helps with energy ......