2 1/2 week old appears drunk

[eggdd]

update 5:

i did the flushing per the recommendations via the link above. i used molasses.

today, chick 2 is better. no drunkness detected at all. chick 1 is better but still unbalanced. both are eating, drinking, and are active. both are still isolated (in second brooder). i am also using acv in their water for prebiotics which will stimulate/feed the probiotics.

other six chicks remain the loons they've always been.

 

[Atomic Ranch]

This is interesting. The same symptoms with my roo, perhaps even worse. I had narrowed the problem to raw corn. I think folks get enthusiastic about giving treats and having their best interest in mind, however some organics aren't subjected to the same regimen. (Not that I believe in the FDA, etc..) I get the impression after much reading that their young, undeveloped systems can't handle things we figure they can. They're chickens, right? An earwig can't hurt. They LOVE them! But I think that's where my wee group got a brief bout of cocci. As they mature, it seems their systems can handle things ours can't. Might stick to starter until they're a little older.

On a side note, I gave my roo molasses as well. I really do believe it worked like a charm. I might try some, myself.

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
I agree with you. The way I see it is that commercial feed companies spend millions of dollars on research and testing as to what goes in feed for our chickens...from day old chicks to adults. Chicks innards are in the process of developing and growing requiring proper balanced feed and nutrition for sustained growth and eventual egg laying or slaughter for meat. I've fed my chickens commercial feeds for years...they are still here and laying. Treats are kept at a bare minimum, including scratch and BOSS.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I agree with you. The way I see it is that commercial feed companies spend millions of dollars on research and testing as to what goes in feed for our chickens...from day old chicks to adults. Chicks innards are in the process of developing and growing requiring proper balanced feed and nutrition for sustained growth and eventual egg laying or slaughter for meat. I've fed my chickens commercial feeds for years...they are still here and laying. Treats are kept at a bare minimum, including scratch and BOSS.

Amen to all of the above................ although I feel all the exccess treaters out there will be outraged and never stop this practice. I feed treats but not very often at all maybe once a month and it's not people food treats. I hear all the time of folks asking how young can they start their chicks on treats, it just leads to so many problems and should be curtailed till they are much older and then be kept to a bare minimum. Probably won't get many followers on this reccomendation LOL.

 

[eggdd]

Quote:
I agree with you. The way I see it is that commercial feed companies spend millions of dollars on research and testing as to what goes in feed for our chickens...from day old chicks to adults. Chicks innards are in the process of developing and growing requiring proper balanced feed and nutrition for sustained growth and eventual egg laying or slaughter for meat. I've fed my chickens commercial feeds for years...they are still here and laying. Treats are kept at a bare minimum, including scratch and BOSS.

Amen to all of the above................ although I feel all the exccess treaters out there will be outraged and never stop this practice. I feed treats but not very often at all maybe once a month and it's not people food treats. I hear all the time of folks asking how young can they start their chicks on treats, it just leads to so many problems and should be curtailed till they are much older and then be kept to a bare minimum. Probably won't get many followers on this reccomendation LOL.

thanks for the replies. let me take this chance to be clear: i confidently think they're doing so well due to their nutrition. they get pure nutrition, not diluted, nor supplemented. commercial feed is heavily supplemented. have you read the ingredient list? it's the equivalent of a human taking vitamin supplements verses getting the nutrients from actual food. there isn't a nutritionist working that would suggest supplements over real food. this is a rule that is applied to all creatures. if there is a nutrient problem, diets need to be changed, not supplemented (as a general rule). period. to think otherwise is a serious issue.

i strongly disagree with trusting feed/chicken processing companies. they have chickens literally having heart attacks at 10 weeks old; legs breaking because their bodies are too big to be supported (literally); they carry antibiotic resistant bacteria (have you read the news lately?). Etc, etc.

also, have you been to a chicken farm supported by [insert name]? have you personally seen what is happening with those chickens? i'm guessing not. i'm hoping not - otherwise..........

i did not start this thread to be a debate over lab created food vs. organic food (or what my grandparents call, um, just food). this thread is to address a specific issue. if you have something to offer on that note, please feel free. otherwise, i respectfully ask that you not hijack my thread. this is a forum - start your own thread.

 

[dawg53]

You posted a problem with your 2.5 week old chick. You fed her yogurt, then noticed her abnormal behavior. You asked for ideas, suggestions and things to look out for going forward.
You got the ideas, suggestions and things to look forward to from the responses you received.
The thread was not hijacked and I totally agree with you that there are no debates as what to feed your chicks...only suggestions or recommendations. Nor any debates where or whom we buy our feed, commercial or otherwise. What you feed them is your business, not mine. Have a good day.

 

[al6517]

Quote:
X2 the OP got all the answers she asked for and the helpful suggestions she requested. As I mentioned earlier folks will feed what they want when they want, that's their choice for sure.


OP ......

let me take this chance to be clear: i confidently think they're doing so well due to their nutrition. they get pure nutrition, not diluted, nor supplemented. commercial feed is heavily supplemented. have you read the ingredient list? it's the equivalent of a human taking vitamin supplements verses getting the nutrients from actual food. there isn't a nutritionist working that would suggest supplements over real food. this is a rule that is applied to all creatures. if there is a nutrient problem, diets need to be changed, not supplemented (as a general rule). period. to think otherwise is a serious issue.



I just don't recall Yogurt being on the chickens natural food diet, nor have I ever seen them free ranging where yogurt grows. Probiotics is a human food fad thing, I don't know that it even helps with chickens digestion. Just sayin.

 

[eggdd]

update 6:

both chicks are doing great! today is their three week birthday. and their third day since they began feeling icky. both chicks are active, hungry, thirsty - - and generally doing their thing.

i stopped using acv last night. i will use only fresh water the next couple, or three, days.

the other six chicks will be going out to their tractor this weekend. i'm debating on whether to send these two along or hold them back for a few days just to make sure all is well. we'll see.

 

[Matt A NC]

Quote:
I am glad your chicks recovered.

Matt

 

[eggdd]

thank you, matt.