Chick Not Eating

[PrairieChickens]

I've had to go through this a few times. Sometimes, chicks just won't eat. Glad you're handling it well, and hoping the others are thriving!

 

[mamakat74]

Earlier in the week, I received 4 day old babies from Meyer. I went to another town to get them from the p.o. distribution center a day earlier than they would have arrived here, so I could give them a good start. My little wyandotte was clearly not as strong as the others. Eyes were half closed and it wasn't as alert. I gave them all water, and the others all ate and drank well. This one just kept trying to find comfort under the wings of the others. I quarantined her, have been giving her electrolytes and vitamins, and a mash of "Exact" baby bird food. She has access to chick crumble all the time, but I never see her eat it. She has perked up, but constantly peeps loudly, and I still don't see her actually eating the crumble. She appears to be fine otherwise, except that she doesn't seem to "get" how to eat on her own. Has anyone else had a chick who was just a slow starter, but who actually survived?

I got 4 more two days later, by the way, and they all seem to be thriving as well as the others.

Also, should I be trying to crop feed her, or just offer her mush in a spoon? I have only ever crop-fed an adult.

 

[PrairieChickens]

I hate to be pessimistic, but I've yet to have a chick like that that survived. They may drink, move around, behave normally otherwise, but they just don't start eating, and eventually that is what does them in.

I don't know if it's just that instinct that is missing, or if there is something else wrong inside of them that causes them to not want to eat. Either way, I haven't been able to save my chicks who refuse to eat.

 

[mamakat74]

Thank you. I had hoped someone had success. I wonder what the heck is wrong. Poor thing.

 

[boskelli1571]

Thank you. I had hoped someone had success. I wonder what the heck is wrong. Poor thing.

Hi there, I guess I would try chick starter mushed up with water, make it a oatmeal consistency and see if she does better with that. You may have to 'finger feed' her until the light bulb goes on in that little chicken brain!

Good luck!

 

[Turkeytruff]

OK I guess the outcome is not good having read the above. I have a loudly pipping but not eating or drinking (unless we syringe feed poly vit, and melon water which we have been doing) 3 day old BCM chick. Wondering if she is blind. Stands there loudly chirping, will flip out of my hand, stayed under the ecoglow most of the first 2 days. Looks alright on the outside, bright eyed, but don't know what else to do

. Little heartbreaker.

 

[boskelli1571]

OK I guess the outcome is not good having read the above. I have a loudly pipping but not eating or drinking (unless we syringe feed poly vit, and melon water which we have been doing) 3 day old BCM chick. Wondering if she is blind. Stands there loudly chirping, will flip out of my hand, stayed under the ecoglow most of the first 2 days. Looks alright on the outside, bright eyed, but don't know what else to do

. Little heartbreaker.

Yeah - nature certainly is a tough mother....still, survival of the fittest I guess.

 

[mamakat74]

Actually, everyone was wrong about mine. It took weeks of feeding Exact, but she FINALLY got the hang of it. And when all of my other chicks got ill with coccidiosis, she did not. It turns out she IS the fittest now. So don't give up.

 

[Turkeytruff]

Thanks Mamakat74
Sadly our little chick didn't survive. I'm pretty sure she was blind. Got to eat a crumb or 2 in her last days. But I'm happy for you that yours survived and is thriving.