Baby the tiny bantam...day old chick from TSC, no interest in eating or drinking on her own..HELP!!

[onedoodle3]

Baby is a tiny bantam chick I got yesterday at TSC ( I know I know..I shouldn't have gotten them there but they were so darn cute!!!) and she/he is not showing any interest in eating or drinking. She still has her egg tooth, and wants to snuggle up with the others. She does her best to get under one of their wings. Anyway, DD and I made a video of it, I hope it loads ok for y'all. We'd appreciate any help we can get with her. Thanks!!!

 

[Masonicflock]

looks like one I had to nurse back to health.. possibly drooping head? cause could be cocci (or coxy) intestinal parasites. Did you pick up any Duramycin 10 or probiotics to put in the water? You should try holding her near the water and possibly dunking her beak in it a few times at first. Swap to a white light if you are running a red light. you will have to do the water thing for a bit like a few times and hr and dont be surprised if she wont wanna at times.. Then just hope for the best. I had a looooong night with mine

 

[onedoodle3]

I have the Save-a-Chick electrolytes and the Save-a-Chick probiotics in the water. When you say a white light, is there a heat lamp that is white? I have been told to never dip a chicks beak in water but have no idea why....but I will try that. At this point, I'm willing to do anything to save her/him. Thanks!

 

[Masonicflock]

The bulb is just a regular 120 volt/250 watt bulb. You can get them at walmart, tsc etc... they come in red or "white." Red is generally used to prevent picking and cannabilism. For whatever reason the White will make them look up more. I use old techniques and this was new to me but it seemed to work but that is the best I can offer at this time. Well when chicks first hatch and after 2 days they are moved to the brooder you have to dip their beaks in water so they will know to drink. So that doesn't make any sense to me... Those will work short time but Duramycin 10 is available at TSC and works the best long term. Mix it in the water til it is similar to lemonade. Hope the little bugger makes it.

 

[onedoodle3]

I put some of the electrolyte/probiotic solution in a red lid and held Baby near it. He/she dipped her beak in it themselves and started drinking. She/he is holding her head up more today. I put some crushed food on the lid too so I'm hoping he/she will try to eat too. He/she IS drinking more and pooping. The poop is mostly clear with some white in the center. But he/she seems to be holding their own.

Thanks for the help. I'll keep up with his/her progress on this thread if anyone is interested.

Thanks!!

 

[Eggcessive]

I would scramble an egg, then chop it up finely, and feed it to her. I have never met a chick who didn't love eggs, and the protein will perk her up. The red light is better since she is being pecked. Just keep trying to get her to drink. The chick feed with a little vitamin water may be appealing too. Make sure they are warm enough and can get away from the heat too.

 

[Dawns Funy Farm]

maybe a little bit of sugar water on the tip of her beak will get her energy up enough to eat

 

[cafarmgirl]

Sometimes they are just stressed and exhausted from shipping, especially the tiniest ones. I would just keep up with the Save-A-Chick and try to get her to eat. Some very small bantams also have trouble at first eating regular chick starter so if you are mashing some up and feeding her I would keep doing that too. Sometimes they really like it if you make a mash of it with some warm water. Other then that, just warmth and rest. Good luck with the tiny one, hope it pulls through.

PS: You are going to need a larger brooder very soon! Like tomorrow!

 

[onedoodle3]

LOL! yeah, I know. We actually have 8 2-week old chicks in the big brooder. Chicken math struck and I had to scramble to find something to put the bantams in. Darn that chicken math!!!! I will try all the suggestions. I just want her to live. She's so adorable and you can tell she's fighting to live. I've thought about taking her out and putting her in a smaller tote with a heat lamp and maybe a stuffed toy to keep her company. But I'm not sure that would be good. I've heard chicks don't do well by themselves, but I don't know. This is only my 2nd year dealing with chicks and the first time I've had a chick in distress. So I'm kinda freaking out. I've always been one that cheered for the littlest one whether it was a kitten, puppy, chick, whatever. She loves to be held so hopefully she will pull through. If she does, I think she will be a pet chicken that comes in the house and is pampered.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Ah, I see, chicken math at work!

I always have the same problem here when I have the brooder running. I don't know either if it would be a good thing to isolate her, she seems to want the comfort of the other chicks. Hard to know what's best sometimes.