Baby chicks are here...so nervous

[TRMFAM]

We picked up the chicks we ordered from Cackle Hatchery today and I have to give them two thumbs up...Great folks to deal with.

We ordered:
4 Black Australorps
4 Buff Orpington's
4 Golden Comets
3 Easter Eggers

In our box we had:
5 Black Australorps
5 Buff Orpington's
5 Golden Comets
4 Easter Eggers

And while at the hatchery who could resist adding:
5 Silkies
1 Polish

So, ordered 15 came home with 25! Day one and I already failed chicken math even after all the reading on here!

Approximately a 3 hour drive home and everyone is in the brooder and appear to be doing well...moving all around eating and drinking...they picked up using the buckets with the nipples before I had them all out of the box and into the brooder! They have not used the regular waterer yet...just using the 2 buckets with 4 nipples each. I have added ACV to the water.

I have a regular jar type feeder and two 6" diameter lids I filled...they are going after the lids and not really touching the feeder yet. Already refilled both lids in 4 hours!

Quick Question: We do have one little black silkie that seems a bit off...it looks like he is trying to poop but I have not seen him go yet. Kinda bends over and head is close to ground wings out a bit and I can see his bottom area moving in and out. I checked for pasty butt and nothing but I believe I can see and feel the umbilical...assuming it is back there below the tail. There is something hard sticking out about 1/8". Any ideas?

He seems to move around and I saw him eating and drinking a couple hours ago but nothing since...thank you for your help. I checked all 6 of my books for bowel / poop issues with babies but can't find anything listed.

 

[RonC]

Don't mess with the umbilical, let it fall off on it's own. Depending on how old they are don't be too upset if one or two don't make it the first week. Keep an eye on the temperature, food and water. Make sure they have a cooler area they can get to if they get too hot. That is one of the biggest problems I read about. Relax and enjoy your babies. Post if you suspect something is wrong!

 

[TRMFAM]

Thank you Ron and I had not planned to touch the umbilical but I have seen a few of the other girls peck at it. Please help me with my ignorance...does the umbilical come out of the vent or next to it? I believe it is next to it but really tough to tell and I am nervous about injuring them handling too much.

I did provide some Nutri-Drench via plastic syringe to the little Silkie...how do I make sure I do not get it in their lungs? He looks very unstable, probably drunk would be the best way to describe. Falls and walks sideways some...not drinking or eating. We did not think he would make it this long and already talked to the youngest daughter about him not being alive in the morning. I know it is almost a guarantee out of 25 at least 1 will not make it but still feel pretty helpless. Just don't like to see anything suffer...on the whole we live pretty sheltered / pampered lives in America.