Baby Chickens Dying, Please Help Me

[Crystal Carroll]

My Banny momma hatched eight babies on 10/25. They were doing great, until I checked on them today. I had one dead chick, and three others that look like they will die by the end of the night. They have been eating, but when I felt their little chest it was like they had no food in them at all. Their little chest bone is sticking out. My Banny is a new momma so I don't know if that is the problem or not. They are on the proper food, but it's not medicated. I haven't treated them for worms yet, but will get some first thing tomorrow. I just don't know what to do. Is this normal? What can I do to help these babies? This is my first set of babies, and my heart is just breaking. I have the momma and the babies in the house because the weather has been cold then hot, then cold again. This have been an influence. Please any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

is mom hovering them? just the house is not warm enough they need about 90 warm them up, give them some baby bottle warm sugar water , dip their beaks to make sure they are drinking and you can moisten the crumbles with it too. dont dip the nostril just the beak tip. hope it helps

 

[Crystal Carroll]

yes she is sitting on them. They seem to be doing a bit better since I brought them all in the house. I will try the sugar water. Thank you so much.

 

[enola]

what are you feeding them? If they are bantams the chick crumbles may be too large for them to swallow. Either crush the food to make the pieces smaller or make a mash for them to eat. Baby chicks should have stuffed full crops after eating. Make absolute sure they are drinking water too.

They do not need to be wormed !!!! That would be way too much stress on such small babies.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

you are welcome , let me know how they do. the feed may be to large for them to eat enough of and that is why i suggested sugar water in the feed and they also love it. you should see their little crop swell right up.lol

 

[Crystal Carroll]

Just an update three of the twelve babies survived. This was after I removed them to a secluded place away from the other adult chickens. They r very healthy and doing well with the other chickens now that they r older. Thank u for the advice.

 

[LoveChickens123]

that is good some survived

 

[Granny Hatchet]

i am glad you got 3, i dont think you mentioned before they were with other adults beside mama? some mamas are so protective of their young that they can kill them trying to keep them close or other adults will do it too. roos will go after baby roos and hens may try to steal the chicks resulting in death. For next time !!! lol

 

[Crystal Carroll]

Thank u. my hens killed my only silkie this afternoon cause she was wanting babies of her own. I never new hens would do this. Should I remove my rooster from the remaining 12 hens to prevent another death? I've only been raising chickens for about 8 months. Right now only 3 of my 12 hens r laying eggs. The others r not old enough yet. I just don't want a repeat of today. All of my hens r bantams. But 5 r the small breed