I'm transferring over some info from last night and this morning, as suggested by someone in the Dorking thread, sorry it's long - hope you can help!
Tuesday 11pm
Hi there, as a new member I'm hoping to take full advantage of the wealth of experience amongst other members - sorry this is a long post, hope that's OK, I wanted to give all info that may be relevant as I have just 1 weeks experience of looking after very young chicks.
I went to take pictures this evening as suggested by earlier respondents to my 'how old is my dorking chick' question. Sadly our little Dorking (whom we named Pixie) is really looking as if she feels awful. She looks really 'droopy' is holding her eyes closed a lot, then she has spurts of activity, moving round the tote as usual, eating chick crumbs, drinking the water, and passing normal, formed stool. Because I was concerned that she didn't seem to be growing, or getting any more feathers growing in I have been weighing them for a few days Pixie the Dorking = Mon 6/21 116g, Tue 119g, Wed 118g and this evening 107g!
The Wyandotte (named Fern) on the other hand is thriving, she has loads of new feathers, color change on top of her head, and is growing very fast Mon 6/21 205g, Tue 213g, Wed 233g, tonight 240g.
Initially when they came home, 1 week ago, she was just a touch bigger, now she dwarfs Pixie, we have 2 bowls of chick crumbs set up so there's not too much competition when they eat - Pixie tries to eat alongside Fern, whose bigger body often bumps her out the way, so then Pixie will eat from the other bowl. I tried leaving Fern in the cat carrier I pop them into while I clean the tote tonight, hoping to give Pixie a head start at the fresh food, but she only took a few pieces before realizing she was alone and making the most panicky peep noises, so I reunited them quickly.
I was unsure about their ages when we first brought them home, because the Dorking are listed as hatching in the week of 5/15, so that would make her approx. 5.5 - 6 weeks old now. Meanwhile the Silver Laced Wyandottes were from the week of May 22nd, so you'd think those chicks would be smaller than the Dorkings.
I'm sure some of you have experience with sick chicks. Given that she's eating well, but losing weight, would you suspect parasites? Her stool has been formed all week that she's been here, no blood seen. If parasites are a possibility, what kind of dewormer would you recommend? To make sure she is warm, I have a heat disc underneath the base of the tote, and lined a small box with fleece and made a little chicken hot water bottle, by heating uncooked rice in a sports sock in the microwave - something I used to do for my foster kittens. She was standing in the box leaning aganst that when I last checked (she often sleeps standing up with her head tucked behind her, under a wing, rather than lying in the shavings like the Wyandotte does).
Is there a possibility she could be a lot younger, and we should have her under a heat lamp? (Currently we just have the tote under a strip light as we were advised that at 5 weeks they needed some light for reassurance, but not for heat). Or do you think genetically maybe she is just not too healthy, and so not thriving, given that she really hasn't gained weight?
Any advice welcome, I have emailed the farm that we got them from asking for any advice too, but they are busy and request you allow 24 hours for a response.
I'm sending you a few photos, as, after all these years I'm sure you've seen chicks in all kinds of condition and may see something to indicate why Pixie is fading.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions, I did offer some natural yoghurt, but she wasn't keen, went back to the chick crumbs. I have seen probiotics and electrolytes recommended in other threads, any particular brand I should look out for - if she makes it through the night....
First pic is from 1 week ago, all the others were taken this evening
Weds 7am
Pixie made it through the night, she seems a little more 'with it' I transferred their chick crumb into a better feeder, and she ate with enthusiasm this morning, but again only for 1 or 2 minutes, before falling asleep where she stood. Her wings seem to be drooping lower, almost touching the floor. She had a bowel movement, which was a little paler than usual, but more formed than the splat from last night, no blood seen. She is tucked back in on top of her head disc (under the tote) in a little fleece lined box, with a rice sock to lean onto for warmth.
Weds 10.30am
I made it to my local feed store, they had nutridrench, and sulmet, so I got both of those - I guess I should start with a drop of nutridrench? Is it worth treating with Sulmet, even though there is no blood, and her stool is not that loose today - thinking that there's a possibility of Coccicidia? I am going to try again to give her some natural yoghurt for probiotics, and scrambled egg as I've read elsewhere on this thread .
(I am feeling a little silly getting so anxious about saving 1 little chick, but we only have 2 adult chickens, which we've had for a year, it was a big deal to get more. I researched hatching dates for the farm 2 hours away that we got them from, looked up all the different breeds in my poultry guide, worked out who would do OK in our harsh NY winters, changed my schedule at work and took my husband on a mystery tour 1 week ago, and introduced him to his 2 new 'girls' which were his birthday present - so this is not just one from multiple batches of chicks we'll be raising, we see her more as a pet chicken - if she makes it!) Thanks all.
Tuesday 11pm
Hi there, as a new member I'm hoping to take full advantage of the wealth of experience amongst other members - sorry this is a long post, hope that's OK, I wanted to give all info that may be relevant as I have just 1 weeks experience of looking after very young chicks.
I went to take pictures this evening as suggested by earlier respondents to my 'how old is my dorking chick' question. Sadly our little Dorking (whom we named Pixie) is really looking as if she feels awful. She looks really 'droopy' is holding her eyes closed a lot, then she has spurts of activity, moving round the tote as usual, eating chick crumbs, drinking the water, and passing normal, formed stool. Because I was concerned that she didn't seem to be growing, or getting any more feathers growing in I have been weighing them for a few days Pixie the Dorking = Mon 6/21 116g, Tue 119g, Wed 118g and this evening 107g!
The Wyandotte (named Fern) on the other hand is thriving, she has loads of new feathers, color change on top of her head, and is growing very fast Mon 6/21 205g, Tue 213g, Wed 233g, tonight 240g.
Initially when they came home, 1 week ago, she was just a touch bigger, now she dwarfs Pixie, we have 2 bowls of chick crumbs set up so there's not too much competition when they eat - Pixie tries to eat alongside Fern, whose bigger body often bumps her out the way, so then Pixie will eat from the other bowl. I tried leaving Fern in the cat carrier I pop them into while I clean the tote tonight, hoping to give Pixie a head start at the fresh food, but she only took a few pieces before realizing she was alone and making the most panicky peep noises, so I reunited them quickly.
I was unsure about their ages when we first brought them home, because the Dorking are listed as hatching in the week of 5/15, so that would make her approx. 5.5 - 6 weeks old now. Meanwhile the Silver Laced Wyandottes were from the week of May 22nd, so you'd think those chicks would be smaller than the Dorkings.
I'm sure some of you have experience with sick chicks. Given that she's eating well, but losing weight, would you suspect parasites? Her stool has been formed all week that she's been here, no blood seen. If parasites are a possibility, what kind of dewormer would you recommend? To make sure she is warm, I have a heat disc underneath the base of the tote, and lined a small box with fleece and made a little chicken hot water bottle, by heating uncooked rice in a sports sock in the microwave - something I used to do for my foster kittens. She was standing in the box leaning aganst that when I last checked (she often sleeps standing up with her head tucked behind her, under a wing, rather than lying in the shavings like the Wyandotte does).
Is there a possibility she could be a lot younger, and we should have her under a heat lamp? (Currently we just have the tote under a strip light as we were advised that at 5 weeks they needed some light for reassurance, but not for heat). Or do you think genetically maybe she is just not too healthy, and so not thriving, given that she really hasn't gained weight?
Any advice welcome, I have emailed the farm that we got them from asking for any advice too, but they are busy and request you allow 24 hours for a response.
I'm sending you a few photos, as, after all these years I'm sure you've seen chicks in all kinds of condition and may see something to indicate why Pixie is fading.
Thanks in advance for any suggestions, I did offer some natural yoghurt, but she wasn't keen, went back to the chick crumbs. I have seen probiotics and electrolytes recommended in other threads, any particular brand I should look out for - if she makes it through the night....
First pic is from 1 week ago, all the others were taken this evening
Weds 7am
Pixie made it through the night, she seems a little more 'with it' I transferred their chick crumb into a better feeder, and she ate with enthusiasm this morning, but again only for 1 or 2 minutes, before falling asleep where she stood. Her wings seem to be drooping lower, almost touching the floor. She had a bowel movement, which was a little paler than usual, but more formed than the splat from last night, no blood seen. She is tucked back in on top of her head disc (under the tote) in a little fleece lined box, with a rice sock to lean onto for warmth.
Weds 10.30am
I made it to my local feed store, they had nutridrench, and sulmet, so I got both of those - I guess I should start with a drop of nutridrench? Is it worth treating with Sulmet, even though there is no blood, and her stool is not that loose today - thinking that there's a possibility of Coccicidia? I am going to try again to give her some natural yoghurt for probiotics, and scrambled egg as I've read elsewhere on this thread .
(I am feeling a little silly getting so anxious about saving 1 little chick, but we only have 2 adult chickens, which we've had for a year, it was a big deal to get more. I researched hatching dates for the farm 2 hours away that we got them from, looked up all the different breeds in my poultry guide, worked out who would do OK in our harsh NY winters, changed my schedule at work and took my husband on a mystery tour 1 week ago, and introduced him to his 2 new 'girls' which were his birthday present - so this is not just one from multiple batches of chicks we'll be raising, we see her more as a pet chicken - if she makes it!) Thanks all.
