Chick stressed, not eating enough

[starheel]

So, I have learned a lot and have many regrets with this batch of chicks...here goes.

I have a cochin chick that is not eating enough. Chick has been cleaned of pasty butt 3x. I bought the chick 8 days ago from TSC along with another cochin chick and two barnie chicks straight run. Well I realized that if I did not end up with enough pullets that I would have a hard time integrating them into my flock, I do already have a roo and 5 laying hens. So I tried to get more chicks but the next day both TSC were out of chicks. I went to craigslist and bought 4 pullets (two easter eggers, 2 marans) that had hatched February 15. I read online that it should be ok since they were within two weeks of each other and their wings were not fully feathered.

I don't see the chick actively being bullied but I do see it's feeding attempts getting disrupted. I have moved the chicks into a slightly larger brooding box about 2ftx3ft, Is this too small? I have successfully raised chicks before in one this size but they were all the same size. The poor chick is often standing/laying in a corner by itself I picked it up and its crop felt empty, the other cochin is growing and looks bigger now.

How do I help this chick make it's best shot at life with the least amount of stress.

 

[azygous]

The chick may require hand feeding to get it strong enough to compete. Is this a Cochin? It may be dealing with a less than robust self confidence. But first you need to build up its strength.

What's your location? Country, state? If in the US, buy some Poultry Nutr-drench. Mix up a warm sugar water solution, half a teaspoon of sugar to half a cup of warm water and a few drops of Nutri-drench and syringe feed this to the chick. As it gains in strength and alertness, offer, finely minced hard boiled egg. The chick may not want to eat if alone, so find a docile chick to put with this chick. As the other chick eats, it will encourage the sick chick.

Get a slender oral syringe from your pharmacy, and feed the chick like this photo shows to avoid getting the fluids into the airway.

 

[starheel]

This is a cochin, poor thing thought he/she was top dog until I brought in the bigger chicks. Located in NC, US. I will get some nutridrench. I have been giving it a homemade sugar/electrolite blend I found a recipe for online prior to reading your comment, which seems to have helped some, I just saw him eating. Do I still feed with the syringe How do I make sure he is eating enough, do I just monitor his energy? Also, if I do end up syringe feeding him how do I know the right amount?

 

[azygous]

It's always better to have the chick eat and drink on its own. You will know when you need to syringe feed when the chick appears too weak or unwilling to eat on its own. Then do the sugar water and special feeding until the chick is strong enough to do it on its own.

The correct amounts depend on the size of the chick's crop. When its crop is full, it will give you an idea of its capacity and volume, usually about the size of a plum, or about one ounce.

 

[starheel]

Thanks for the advice...he definitely seems better this evening. I have been seeing normal chick behaviors all afternoon that I haven't seen in a while.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

I have a 5 day old brahm who i brought home 2 days ago and she will drink but i havent seen her eat. She doesnt seem lethargic and she runs around a lot. What should i do. She did have pasty butt. But she is clear of it now.

 

[azygous]

I have a 5 day old brahm who i brought home 2 days ago and she will drink but i havent seen her eat. She doesnt seem lethargic and she runs around a lot. What should i do. She did have pasty butt. But she is clear of it now.

Try sprinkling the chick's feed over the floor of the brooder. Chicks have an instinct to forage for food on the ground. Using a feeder takes some learning.

If this chick continues to have problems, please start your own thread so we can better help you.

 

[Ilovemychicks08]

She started to eat after i did that. Thank you