Chick Gaping...Should I be concerned?

[Chickaroo!]

This evening I went to check on my 8wk. old chicks. When I turned on the light, I saw one gape serveral times, then stop. I've seen some of the others do the same occasionally. They (unfourtnately) are still in the house in the brooder. I have 3 in one and 3 in another. The heat wave we've had here in VA really slowed down any work on our new coop. They are eating chick food and no "treats".

What should I do, if anything? I was reading a little about Ivomec. Is that an option for such a young chick?

 

[sammi]

at 8 weeks old, they shouldn't need Ivomec..
that's for mites and worms..(including gape worm when used properly)..something they wouldn't get in a brooder.


what bedding are you using?
could they be pecking at it and getting it caught in their throats?

could they be too hot?

what breed chicks are they?
some chicks (smaller breeds)..need the chick feed ground up a little..
are you giving chick grit?
(check the feed and see if it has grit in it)

 

[Chickaroo!]

I'm using pine bedding. I honestly don't know if they've been pecking at it and swallowing it. I'll have to take a closer look at that possibility. I don't think they're hot becaue they are shut in a bedroom with a/c.

I'm not positive what kind they are, but I think they may be golden comets? I got them at TSC. I haven't been giving them grit because I thought that you only had to give them it if you were feeding them things besides their chick food. Oh no! Have I been doing that wrong all this time!!??

They look like this:

This was taken about 2 weeks ago. I rarely put them outside.

 

[sammi]

some chick feed already has grit in it.
I don't think you're doping anything wrong..

see if they might be pecking at the bedding..

 

[Chickaroo!]

I looked to see if the food has grit in it, but I'm not sure what name I'm looking for.

There are like, 1,000 ingredients listed! Ok, maybe that's stretching it, but there are alot. It lists ground limestone. Is that grit?

So, if the food has grit and they are not eating the shavings, what should I do?

 

[Acre of Blessings]

The grit looks like crushed up rock. Usually you buy it seperate. The grit is used to break down food, it works like teeth in the gizzard. I have been giving my Golden Comets (reds) for the last 4 weeks, they are 8 weeks old now. If you let them outside they usually find there own natural grit, and they won't eat no more of it than they need. But you do need to buy a bag, it's very inexpensive and will last a long time.

Fix you a makeshift pen and put the chicks outside, it will do them good.

 

[M@M@2four]

Yep--that's golden comets alright! I got about 70 young pullets!

 

[Chickaroo!]

But now I'm confused. I thought I read on BYC somewhere that you only need to give grit if they are eating anything else other then their chick food, which they aren't. I do have a bag of chick grit. Should I start offering it as free choice or put it directly in their food? If I put it in their food, how much?

 

[dlhunicorn]

Chickaroo! :

But now I'm confused. I thought I read on BYC somewhere that you only need to give grit if they are eating anything else other then their chick food, which they aren't. I do have a bag of chick grit. Should I start offering it as free choice or put it directly in their food? If I put it in their food, how much?

That is correct... do not give them grit through their feed...they will pick up outside but you can put out a bowl for them to access if they need it.​