Chick not thriving

[Elliebeans]

This little cuckoo silkie will be two days old in a couple of hours. It hatched out under a hen but I pulled it off her and her siblings (was concerned about the hen that hatched them out, she is very young, I don't think she's even laid her first egg yet! But she was a very determined broody).

It's moving around but not as well as it's hatch mates who are scampering around like little energised bunnies. I also had to pick it up this morning when it fell over and had trouble getting up and as you can see it's a bit scruffy and not as fluffed up as it's siblings (have also attached a photo of a sibling).

Was just wondering if there is anything I can do to help it? Any vitamins or anything?

It's also going to be a very hot day for us today, expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius. They're inside, I have a fan I can set up in their room and even ice I can add to the water and am planning on taking the mother hen heat pad away so they don't overheat themselves in a quest for security or raise it up higher. But it's got me worried more about the baby. Fortunately I am on leave and can keep an eye on them today.

 

[chickenlittle21]

You should talk to your local feed store, see what they say

 

[Elliebeans]

I went to the local place down the road and picked up a general wellness ad vitality supplement called Anitone. Just heavily diluted it in water and gave some to the baby with a tiny syringe. I'm thinking it may not be drinking properly the way he lunged at the syringe so I'll give him a bit of water with it every now and then. It was the only thing they had, there is a specialised poultry store nearby but it's closed at the moment. If it makes it I'll probably pay them a visit later.

I'm very invested in these chicks. It's been hard getting any to hatch. Their colour is really hard to find. I found one breeder in my state who I got the eggs from and she's been having bad luck with fertility and her hens not laying that much so this is my second go, didn't have luck with the first. I was fortunate enough to have a couple of hens go broody that I could give the eggs to this time. Am going to be keeping a really close eye on these bubs.

 

[cmfarm]

If the breeder is having trouble getting the chickens to lay and the eggs to hatch they may have some kind of illness that passed down to the chick.

 

[Elliebeans]

If the breeder is having trouble getting the chickens to lay and the eggs to hatch they may have some kind of illness that passed down to the chick.

That's a worry, especially as I want to breed from them in the future. Hopefully it's not the case. Little chick is still with us, has fluffed out but is still smaller and slower than the others. I've been giving it a tiny bit of vitamins mixed with water from a syringe once a day. It's very keen for the first drink, just launches for the syringe and clamps on

 

[gtaus]

This little cuckoo silkie will be two days old in a couple of hours. It hatched out under a hen but I pulled it off her and her siblings (was concerned about the hen that hatched them out, she is very young, I don't think she's even laid her first egg yet! But she was a very determined broody).

It's moving around but not as well as it's hatch mates who are scampering around like little energised bunnies. I also had to pick it up this morning when it fell over and had trouble getting up and as you can see it's a bit scruffy and not as fluffed up as it's siblings (have also attached a photo of a sibling).

Was just wondering if there is anything I can do to help it? Any vitamins or anything?

It's also going to be a very hot day for us today, expected to hit 40 degrees Celsius. They're inside, I have a fan I can set up in their room and even ice I can add to the water and am planning on taking the mother hen heat pad away so they don't overheat themselves in a quest for security or raise it up higher. But it's got me worried more about the baby. Fortunately I am on leave and can keep an eye on them today.

Well, I'm no expert, but it looks like your chick is doing well in the pictures. Some chicks are a bit slower and appear to have less energy than other chicks in those first few critical days. I always make sure they are kept warm (I live in northern Minnesota) and have access to food and water. Adding some vitamin or electrolyte water may help. But some chicks just need a few days to sleep and build up their strength. I always worry when I have a chick or two that don't seem up to the "normal" behavior of the other chicks. Most of the time, they seem to recover just fine and in a few days are running alongside the others.

 

[Elliebeans]

Well, I'm no expert, but it looks like your chick is doing well in the pictures. Some chicks are a bit slower and appear to have less energy than other chicks in those first few critical days. I always make sure they are kept warm (I live in northern Minnesota) and have access to food and water. Adding some vitamin or electrolyte water may help. But some chicks just need a few days to sleep and build up their strength. I always worry when I have a chick or two that don't seem up to the "normal" behavior of the other chicks. Most of the time, they seem to recover just fine and in a few days are running alongside the others.

Thank you, it is looking a bit better. I'm pretty invested in these babies and am pretty paranoid about them!

 

[Lizzy733]

It can take them a few days to come right if they exhausted themselves in hatch. I had to assist a head over the wing who hobbled for what was his day one and fell over constantly on two. They're one week tomorrow and the little one is just as spry as his siblings now.

Another concern though, do you know anything about the parent stock? How old they were or when the last time was the breeder brought in new blood? Definitely dont breed these brother to sister or you'll just perpetuate those fertility issues.