Electrolytes & probiocics

[Chicken_man_J]

Getting everything ready and seen several versions from Sav-a-chick to hydro hen and others. What is your recommendations on brand to use and time frame to administer before switching to regular water?

 

[azygous]

Electrolytes should be given on the first day after bringing home new chicks or getting them in the mail. No need to give them beyond the first day. We usually add a little sugar to the water to bring up the glucose levels and this stabilizes chicks experiencing shipping stress. (ONE TEASPOON SUGAR TO ONE CUP WATER)

Prolonged use of electrolytes can cause buildup of unwanted salts in the organs. Electrolytes are for emergencies, not for daily use.

My choice for poultry vitamins for new chicks or chicks having health issues is Poultry Nutri-drench. The reason I prefer this brand is because it's formulated to be absorbed directly into the blood stream without being metabolized by the liver. This is important because many baby chicks may not have fully developed digestive systems yet. These poultry vitamins should also only be used for just two or three days. I make a "weak tea" by using them in the water.

 

[Chicken_man_J]

Electrolytes should be given on the first day after bringing home new chicks or getting them in the mail. No need to give them beyond the first day. We usually add a little sugar to the water to bring up the glucose levels and this stabilizes chicks experiencing shipping stress. (ONE TEASPOON SUGAR TO ONE CUP WATER)

Prolonged use of electrolytes can cause buildup of unwanted salts in the organs. Electrolytes are for emergencies, not for daily use.

My choice for poultry vitamins for new chicks or chicks having health issues is Poultry Nutri-drench. The reason I prefer this brand is because it's formulated to be absorbed directly into the blood stream without being metabolized by the liver. This is important because many baby chicks may not have fully developed digestive systems yet. These poultry vitamins should also only be used for just two or three days. I make a "weak tea" by using them in the water.

I have previously used Nutri-drench on my laying hens. So dilute the nutri-drench for the first couple days then transition to direct water or water with added probiotics? I am getting them from the feed store and they are re hydrating them for me to pick up the nest day after arrival. What is the diluted ratio for Nutri-drench? As for using chic grit is there a particular version or can i crush the oyster shell I have?

 

[azygous]

I mix the Nutri-drench in the chick water so it appears as weak tea. Mix fresh each day. However, Nutri-drench can cause diarrhea if given for more than just a few days.

Even feed store chicks can suffer shipping stress. Even the car ride home can cause stress. Stress can be delayed. Stress can cause organ malfunction. This is why we give electrolytes and sugar when we first get new chicks home.

Oyster shell is calcium carbonate. Even limestone is calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is water soluble, and it dissolves in the gizzard, therefore making it unsuitable for grit. You need to buy granite grit. It will not dissolve. Chick grit is optional, but it's useful to get the chicks' digestive systems ready for digesting anything. I raise chicks on construction sand and they begin consuming the sand immediately. They stop once they've sufficiently kitted out their gizzards so no worries they will eat too much.