baby chick acting bizzar-please help

[sheila3935]

try putting some electrolyte/vitamin in their water. You could also try the poly-visol without iron. I work at a feed store and had a little sebright do that when they came in. She was very weak. I give all my chicks at home and at the store the electrolye in their water. After getting her warm I started dribbling the water along her beak. I did this off and on all evening and by the time I left work she was drinking on her on and eating some. The next nmorning when I came in to work I couldnt tell which chick it was that was sick. She was up running eating drinking with everyone else. Also since doing this we hardly have any pasty butts at work now.

 

[momsflock]

I gave them some sugar water when I got them, they are on medicated starter, and they have Marth wood shavings. I did give the water in the syring on their beak and they perked up, but still would not eat. The last chick I have is eating and drinking on her own with no problems.

So I guess I did all I could do? Still so sad

 

[cheyfrie26]

How old are they? Sometimes its takes up to three days to get them to eat after they hatch. I usually dip their beak in water to let them know its there. Mine usually learn to eat on their own. But once I gave mine medicated chick starter they never had those little spasms after that. But if they aren't eating it, that could be your problem.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
So sorry to hear of your losses.

And I'm glad the one is doing well.
If anyone experiences a chick that will not eat, you can try to moisten the chick feed with some warm water & make it into a paste or a slurry, whichever consistancy they prefer. They might like it better than straight chick feed.
What are Marth wood shavings?

 

[dretd]

Quote:
Star gazing is caused by a Vitamin B1(Thiamin) deficiency. Not sure if this is what your chick had, but water soluable vitamins wouldn't be a bad idea. If I remember right, Amprolium ( the active ingredient in many medicated chick starters) is a thiamin analog and prevents or competes with the uptake of thiamin the in coccidia. It is conceivable that it may also compete with the absorption of the thiamin in the chicks. I personally wouldn't use it on a chick I suspected of star-gazing unless I was convinced there was a coccidia problem (diarrhea).

Momsflock, I'm really sorry for your loss. Very sad.

 

[momsflock]

Both chicks that died would not eat the food, and I was giving them water by syring. The food is medicated. The chick that survived is doing fine. She is a Buff Orph and is even trying to nest in the shavings. (so cute)

For future reference: How do you get a chick to eat? Should I pry the beak open and place a little piece of food in there?
Thank you

 

[momsflock]

Quote:
Just saw this post~ thank you

 

[D D Backyard]

Hi, Just read your stargazing help on line here...I have a baby Serama chick that is stargazing....what should I feed her and how often? Where can I get it?

Update: I started feeding it this: I mix the water up for them all with the little packets of Probiotic and electrolyte powders. I also add some Apple cider vinegar [ no more than 1 teaspoon worth in a gallon of water ]. Take this mix and add it to about 1/4 teaspoon of malt-o-meal...just a bit to fluff up the malt-o-meal. I also got 3 drops of infant vitamin drops. All this is put into a plastic 3 liter soda pop bottle's lid [ it's bigger than a 2 liter bottles lid ]. I take the dropper from the vitamin drops and gently get that liquid into the beak. not easy considering that she moves her head way back over her spine. But every little bit counts. Over time she will start to get back to normal [sitting with her head up right]. She has done this a couple times already...but she will do it again. I will continue to feed her this till she starts to eat on her own. I did this with the last polish chicken we had and she turned out fine. Its a bit of a struggle for a bit but do it often [like when you notice the other babies eat ] feed her. i don't feed through the night because I feed right before I got to bed and I get up very early bout 4 am [ don't ask] then my day starts again with her.
I have read that they are missing vitamins and they need that to help them straighten out.
Hopefully, if anyone else has this problem this helps them. Even for teeny tiny Seramas!

 

[Bugseye]

I wondered about getting my first-time chicks to eat too, and then remembered to sprinkle some starter feed on a piece of white paper. It got their attention right away! And hello from a newbie who's enjoying the conversations. I've got 2 buff orpingtons and 2 golden sex links started and am awaiting arrival of my Australorps this week.