3 day old chick not eating or drinking

[eikome]

These are my first ever chicks. Ordered 5 through the mail, shipped Monday, received Wednesday. All seemed fine on arrival, eating and drinking. After a few hours, one of the chicks (an Easter egger) seemed to be sleeping more than the others, and eventually it stopped eating and drinking. It seems a little more off balance than the others too. It follows the other chicks around, but just stands next to the feeder watching them eat, doesn't try to peck. I have been feeding it egg yolk and molasses water with a dropper every 30 minutes. I gave it some nutridrench too. Will not eat yogurt or softened crumbles. Its crop is filling. Its poop seems okay, a little more watery than the others. Vent is clear. Isnt peeping in distress or anything. It seems like it would be fine if I could just get it to eat and drink on it's own. Is there anything else I can do?

 

[A.M. Eggs]

Is it warm enough in the brooder? I lost ten chicks last month because they were too cold. (it was a batch of 43)

 

[eikome]

Is it warm enough in the brooder? I lost ten chicks last month because they were too cold. (it was a batch of 43)

I think so? I'm using the mama heating pad method. The floor in their cave is 85F, but the heating pad itself is 100F. They're not all crammed together in a pile or anything. Some stand up to snooze, some lean against the pad. The sick one does seem to choose the warmest spot.

 

[ChickenDog0421]

I think so? I'm using the mama heating pad method. The floor in their cave is 85F, but the heating pad itself is 100F. They're not all crammed together in a pile or anything. Some stand up to snooze, some lean against the pad. The sick one does seem to choose the warmest spot.

Hi, I had a chick a couple of weeks ago who had fallen out my brooder and I believe the fall may have caused some kind of head damage because she was doing the exact same thing your chick is doing. She seemed like a perfectly fine chick but she wouldn’t eat or drink on her own. She sadly passed away do you know if your chick may have had any head trauma or anything?

 

[ChickenDog0421]

I think so? I'm using the mama heating pad method. The floor in their cave is 85F, but the heating pad itself is 100F. They're not all crammed together in a pile or anything. Some stand up to snooze, some lean against the pad. The sick one does seem to choose the warmest spot.

Also if the chicks are only a couple days old the brooder should be at least or close to 95 degrees, but if they aren’t pilling up on each other or trying to escape and get away from the heat then the temperature should be fine.

 

[Ducksandchickens]

Has she fallen? Do you have little kids around? (Or older kids)

 

[Ducksandchickens]

These are my first ever chicks. Ordered 5 through the mail, shipped Monday, received Wednesday. All seemed fine on arrival, eating and drinking. After a few hours, one of the chicks (an Easter egger) seemed to be sleeping more than the others, and eventually it stopped eating and drinking. It seems a little more off balance than the others too. It follows the other chicks around, but just stands next to the feeder watching them eat, doesn't try to peck. I have been feeding it egg yolk and molasses water with a dropper every 30 minutes. I gave it some nutridrench too. Will not eat yogurt or softened crumbles. Its crop is filling. Its poop seems okay, a little more watery than the others. Vent is clear. Isnt peeping in distress or anything. It seems like it would be fine if I could just get it to eat and drink on it's own. Is there anything else I can do?

 

[Ducksandchickens]

If you have kids then they could of held it wrong or you could of too. Be careful on how you hold it! Don’t just reach in and pray you grab it. Look online on how to correctly hold a chick.

 

[eikome]

Hi, I had a chick a couple of weeks ago who had fallen out my brooder and I believe the fall may have caused some kind of head damage because she was doing the exact same thing your chick is doing. She seemed like a perfectly fine chick but she wouldn’t eat or drink on her own. She sadly passed away do you know if your chick may have had any head trauma or anything?

Maybe it could have gotten some head trauma during shipping? It hasn't been dropped or fallen as far as I know.

 

[eikome]

If you have kids then they could of held it wrong or you could of too. Be careful on how you hold it! Don’t just reach in and pray you grab it. Look online on how to correctly hold a chick.

Thanks for the warning! I haven't let the kids hold them yet. I'll check to make sure I'm holding them right.