2 baby RIR chicks ...recovered! :)

[2pyrs]

I posted yesterday in the Baby Chicks forum, but someone suggested I post here instead.

This is what I posted there:

"My husband brought home two baby chicks from the feed store two weeks ago today; they were probably about a week old when he brought them home. I posted on BYC asking for advice on how to house them, and thanks to some of the advice we were given, we've got them in a large cage with a (red) heat lamp borrowed from a friend of mine. They've been doing well - and getting big - until two days ago when I noticed that one of them seemed to be less active. S/He's mostly just sitting, usually with eyes closed. It's not really eating anymore, and I don't know if it's drinking (as I had to take my daughter to the doctor today). Every couple of minutes, this little one emits a pitiful little peep. Otherwise, it just sits in your hand with eyes closed - or like yesterday, s/he curled its feet up and almost laid down in my hand. It seems rather wobbly now, too - like walking is just too much effort. I suspect this doesn't bode well for the little one. Any advice on what to do? The other chick is doing great, but s/he chirps constantly - almost like s/he's alarmed and trying to get some help for the other one.

Baby is on medicated chick starter (Kruse food) and has vitamins and sugar added to the water (which is mixed fresh daily, and changed 3-4 times a day). They're kept in a warm bathroom with the heat lamp on one side of the cage (and an equally sizable area away from the light in case that's too warm)."

After posting on the Raising Baby Chicks forum yesterday, I took the advice from someone who suggested that I place water on the tip of the baby's beak; I did that by using a small syringe and putting a small drop on the tip of the beak, which the chick would then swallow. That seemed to help, and baby was a bit more lively after that. However, now, both chicks are now not doing well, and at least one is "throwing up" - saw it when I (gently) picked up the little one this morning.

What else can I do for these little ones?

 

[2pyrs]

Update:

The one who was sicker yesterday, and who I was able to "convince" to drink a bit of water using the dropper, is doing a bit better - and willingly ate some scrambled egg a few minutes ago. The other one - the one who has been the loudest and most active - is now doing rather poorly. My son said a couple hours ago, he found this little chick laying on its back, feet curled up, head stretched out. When I went into the bathroom about 20 minutes ago, both chicks were laying under the light, feathers fluffed up, eyes closed. I picked up the one who was sicker yesterday and brought him to our kitchen, where I was able to get it to eat some scrambled egg I'd just cooked. Its vigor improved as the chick ate.

When I went to get the other chick (the one who, earlier, was laying on its back - I didn't know about it until I had the other one in the kitchen), it was still laying under the lamp, feathers fluffed, but when I picked it up, its feet felt...cold. At least, they were definitely much cooler than I would have expected. I was able to coax it to drink a tiny bit of water, but when I placed it back in the cage, near the scrambled eggs, it didn't move toward the egg for several minutes, then leaned forward and grabbed a couple of pieces.

I'm going to go out and get some grit, because I don't have any for them, but surely that's not the only reason for all of this, is it? Is there anything else I can do?

 

[rancher hicks]

First of all, why are you giving them vitamins and who told you it was necessary? These are babies. ALL you need for chicks is simple chick feed and water. NOTHING ELSE. I don't care what anyone else says. I get sick and tired of reading oh give them this or give them that. Chicks will do just fine with out treats or something cuz people think they are toys. They are not kittens or puppies. As of this writing I have raised plenty of chicks and have only lost 1 and what ever was wrong must of been rare. It was fine one minute and dead the next.

So this is what you should have done. Give them chick starter and water. Nothing else. If it's not to late dump the vitamin water and give them just straight water. A small amount of sugar is good for newly shipped chicks but not necessary everyday thereafter. I suggest that you go to your local bookstore or public library and pick up a book or two on raising chickens.

Thats right I said Chick starter and water. Nothing else. I reiterate this for others who may read this post. I understand there are those who have given their chicks other things. That is their choice but other things are not necessary and definitely not vitamins. Chick starter has every vitamin they need and in the right amounts.

All the best
Rancher

 

[2pyrs]

Okay; thanks for the advice. I appreciate it.

I've removed the vitamin water and replaced with plain. I've dropper-fed both some (of the plain) water, and both have eaten a little bit. A friend thought they might need more heat, so suggested I add a heating pad. They're both on that - they can walk but one is definitely weaker, and sort of crawls with curled feet. It *can* walk normally if it's picked up and then put down with legs extended. When they do walk, they hold their wings out a bit. I thought that meant they were hot, not cold, but they are choosing the heated area over even the area adjacent to it; the other end of the 36" cage is a bit cooler but they don't stay there.

Our library is small, and only open 3x a week. I can try to find a bookstore on Monday, but for tonight and tomorrow, I'll have little choice but to rely on internet advice. They were an unplanned purchase, but we do have 8 laying hens as well. Fortunately, we've not had any problems with those hens, and as I've never had chicks before, this is new to me.

Thanks again,
Natalie

 

[mypicklebird]

What is the temperature in your brooder? Under the lamp, as well as the cool end? What does their poop look like, and do they have poop pasted on their bottoms?

 

[2pyrs]

I don't have a thermometer right now; am trying to locate one to take the temp in there.

I was able to get them to eat scrambled egg last night, and this morning, the paper towel covering the heating pad had about 10-12 little poop areas. They ranged from watery and green to almost normally formed (kind of an olive green, with a bit of white). Neither has a pasty butt.

This morning at ~8 am, my son said they were up and running around in the cage. We gave them fresh food (just chick starter) and fresh (plain) water. Three hours later, they are back to being mostly immobile. One chick was under the heat lamp, laying on his side with his feet curled up. I picked the little one up and gave some water. Offered freshly scrambled eggs, which both seemed to eat BUT neither will willingly stand - they both crawl. They will drink from the water cup if I place them next to it, but neither will go to it willingly - they stay wherever they are placed, with the exception of perhaps turning around. They both drink from the dropper, almost desperately.

I really don't understand how these guys could have gone from running around just four days ago, to being completely unwilling to stand up. I don't think it looks hopeful, but I'm willing to keep going especially if someone has any other advice.

Natalie

 

[2pyrs]

Update:

Unfortunately, they're not doing well at all. They're weak, breathing shallowly - will still eat (scrambled egg, and drink if I use a dropper, or sometimes if they are placed next to the water), but then just lay down and fall asleep in the food, laying on one side, with feet curled up and legs sticking out. They won't walk - if anything, they'll waddle/"crawl" but that's it. It's so sad.

I'm guessing this doesn't sound familiar to anyone?

 

[HorseFeathers]

Sounds like they're too hot... Good luck.

 

[2pyrs]

I keep wondering if that's it, but our house temp is ~68F, and there is just the one red (heat) light above them. I've angled it upward a bit more, but if they're not under it, when I pick them up, their feet are cold. The other end of the cage is completely away from the heat; it should be close to 70F, even. Maybe I should just turn on the heating pad and remove the heat lamp? They were doing fine while I had it set up like that.

Natalie

 

[jerseygirl1]

Honestly, I really don't know, but I've never experienced this myself, however, being new to the chick thing, when mine arrived, they slept A LOT. Could they just be sleeping? I mean, I would go into panic mode and shake the brooder to make sure they were OK. Chicks are a lot hardier than we give them credit for. If they were all that sick, I mean, two weeks is a long time to go for a chick to be sick. I would think it would pass within a few days time, not two weeks.