7 day old chick chirping a lot, closing eyes often and smaller than rest of chicks

[baileybrood]

I have 3 new baby chicks - 7 days old. The 2 Wyndottes are healthy, active chicks. My little Welsummer is not quite as big as they are and seems to chirp a lot. I noticed she closes her eyes often, too. The other two will be off running around in the brooder and she'll just stay to herself most of the time.

She's only slightly smaller than one of them but just doesn't seem as healthy. I use a Brinsea heater and she spends quite a bit of time under it. I've given her Nutri-drench twice a day (small bit on my finger) but I don't see her at the feeder very much.

Is there anything else I can do for her? Maybe she's just a runt but, her closing her eyes so much makes me concerned. And the constant chirping.

Sweet little thing. I feel bad for her. Any suggestions?

 

[Yayah]

The only advice I can give it make sure she's hydrated. I had a small chick in with some larger ones and I think their size and activity level scared her off from the waterer and she got dehydrated. Same sort of closed eyes behavior in mine too. Nutri-drench is good! Hope fully you can get her energy level up and the rest will follow. Watch closely. If there were a bunch of chicks, I'd tell you to seperate her for awhile, but since theres only 3, I don't think you want to do that.

 

[baileybrood]

thank you! That sounds about right. Someone mentioned putting some corn syrup in their water to give her energy. What do you all think of that? How do you make a chick drink? I've tipped her beak in..... Maybe I need to use a dropper to make sure she's getting enough?

 

[Yayah]

Corn Syrup would be fine! Same as sugar.
It's non-nutritional, but would hopefully give her a little boost.
Another easy-to-get-ahold-of option is Enfamil Poly-vi-sol vitamins (without iron)
I found mine in the children/baby pharmacy section of the store. Comes with a dropper syringe and is sometimes good for birds who are a little sluggish.

 

[baileybrood]

Thank you!