Chick Won't Eat

[Jane Jill Jack]

I recieved my chicks yesterday, and all of them were running around happy and healthy. One chick was exceptionally energetic and ran around the whole box all day. Today she is very quiet, and I have only seen her drink, not eat, and the rest of the time sleeping even though others knock her around every once in a while. I am afraid she is not going to eat at all unless I force food down her throat somehow. Any suggestions to get her jumping again?

 

[falinagirl]

Did you check her for pasty butt?

 

[Jane Jill Jack]

Yes I did, and she is clean.

 

[Judy]

Besides the butt, you could moisten a little food, also smash it til it's finer, just to get her started.

Maybe she just had a big yolk??? Good luck to you, I hope she starts soon.

 

[Kbagwell1]

How old is she?? Some chicks can go up to 3 days without eating after hatching!

 

[Jane Jill Jack]

The chick is four days old. I will try moistening the food. Thank you.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
x 2
Have you added anything to their water? Maybe put a little sugar in her water, or electrolytes/vitamins if she doesn't seem to improve. TSC has a solution called Sav-A-Chik that comes in a 3-pack of doses for $2.

 

[Jane Jill Jack]

Thanks everybody, I put some water in their food, and every chick went crazy over tat, including the one I was worried about. I will add electrolytes though, and continue moistening the food. Thanks again for all your advice!

 

[chickensinwasillaAK]

Mine are 5 days old and the wet food works wonders, I can attest to that. I have both wet and dry, the chicks swarm the wet feeder and pretty much ignore the dry.

 

[Okie Amazon]

We have a black cochin that hatched in our incubator yesterday. He/she has drank a couple times, but no eating yet. I'll try some moistened food. How long after hatch should I be concerned if it still doesn't eat? I wasn't too concerned for the first 24 hours, but now I'm getting more nervous by the hour!