3 day old maran chick not eating

[poppy86]

Hi akl.

My first incubation and only 3 chicks hatched. 2 wheatans and a maran. A wheaten died within a day. It gasped rather than breathed.

I assisted the hatch of the maran 48 hrs after he started chirping in the egg.

After about 8 hrs, he hatched. It took about 24 hrs before he could hold his head up. Then he had curled toes and staggered around on his hocks (not sure right word!)

I used the masking tape trick and thought he stubbles, his toes are nearly straight and he walks upright the mask tape had been on 24 hrs and i am putting back on tonight as one foot still wants to curl back in a bit.

So from chirping to now he is about three days old. I can get him to drink bit he wont eat. He has started to pecj at my finger when i tap the feed but he isnt taking any...

What should i do?

 

[oregonkat]

So you have 2 chicks together right? Is the other chick eating? It sounds to me like you may need to give this little one some strong vitamin water with a syringe, maybe even straight Nutri drench vitamins to give him a boost. Do this from the SIDE of his beak!
You can take some of the chick starter food and wet it to make it into a light mash even a soupy mash and again using an implement get some of this stuff down his throat very, very gently from the side of his beak.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

X2
You need to dip his beak in water,and feed him some chick feed mash. Gently push a bit in the side of his beak.

 

[poppy86]

Yes i have two. The other hatched two days before and is very strong. I have had to put a 2nd feeder in... he eats loads

Ok... will try. I did try a mash earlier but he really resists and i am terrified of hurting him. Worked so hard to get him to this point

 

[poppy86]

Someone told me to try boiled egg yolk?

 

[oregonkat]

Someone told me to try boiled egg yolk?

Yes, great! Also soft scrambled egg is good. Remember that the chick has stores of food from hatching because it absorbed that beautiful yolk. They can survive just fine without food for about 48 hours but after that they should be very interested in eating. Keep trying with him even if it is only a tiny bit at a time. Vitamins in the water are very important, dont forget! good luck!

 

[poppy86]

He ate egg yolk off my hand! Little bit but its a start!

I will go out for vitamin water today! I am.in UK ... any recommendations for which one.

He chirps all the time! Never quiet! Other chick ignores him...

I think because he is still weak, hr struggles with balance so I think i will be feeding him for a while!

 

[oregonkat]

I like Nutri Drench but I don't know the availability in the UK but any poultry liquid vitamin would do, try to find one that has B6 if possible. With this little chick, I would give him some neat to give his body a boost, his balance issues will be helped with this. I'm glad to hear that he ate some yolk, that is a good sign. The loud chirping may also be because he is too cold. Do you have him under a Mama heat pad or some other warming device?

 

[poppy86]

I have him under an eco brooder...

Maybe its too high. Its very hot in uk at mo. 35° at moment.

He chirps v loudly.... ill lower it for him
Thank u!

 

[oregonkat]

Let us know how he is doing after you treat him and perhaps made him warmer. New chicks need to have access to about 95deg. warmth for the first week or so and then about 5 degs. cooler each week after that.