Chick not looking good

[Gagirly]

I just hatched my first chicks 2 days ago. Everything seemed to go fine. Today, one chick is lying on it's back. It can walk, it just doesn't seem to want to and seems weak. I was thinking dehydration. How can you tell if they've been drinking ?

 

[Moonlight Piano]

If your worried about not drinking, you could always do it yourself. Just gently dip the chicks beak in and out of the water, they should get some water that way. After awhile thet should get the idea and do it themselves. Hope it turns out well

.

 

[Gagirly]

I'll try that. I'm really worried. It's lying on it's back, breathing hard and occationally chirping really loud. I don't want it to die.

 

[Gagirly]

He drank a little.

 

[Kevin565]

You may want to act some electrolytes. However, only time will tell. I hope it makes a good recovery.

 

[Judy]

It may be dehydrated, but that's not likely the primary problem. You may never know what is. There's quite an article in the sticky in this (Raising Baby Chicks) forum on losing new chicks. I hope he makes it.

One cause of dehydration is high brooder temp; you didn't mention your setup. You need to be sure the brooder is large enough that they can get away from the heat and cool off some if they want to.

 

[Gagirly]

The little chick didn't make it.

The brooder temp has stayed steady at 90 degrees. There is plenty of room to get out from under the heat. The other chick seems fine. I wish I knew what went wrong. He was running around and seemed fine yesterday.

 

[bustermommy]

I'm sorry.

 

[SteveBaz]

Its just the way it is with baby chicks thats all and its nothing you could have done So Sorry

 

[Kevin565]

So sorry for your loss