Force feeding ? Liquid from beak/bloody stool.....PIC

[cjeanean]

Four of my cochins have had empty crops the past 2 days, and I don't know why. My fifth one is fine, he/she has been eating and running around like crazy, along with the other 21 chicks that I have. These four aren't, so I brought them in and gave them some poly-vis-il. They all drink when water is placed in front of them, and one actively eats. The other three seem to have no interest in food, and I'm wondering if, due to their quieter nature, the others aren't letting them eat. I need to get some food in them, how do I do it??? My resources are limited, all I have is feed and poly-vis-il. They are 7 weeks old today from McMurray hatchery.

 

[arlee453]

When I have one that is smaller and not thriving, I take the chick out of the brooder 3-4 times per day and offer a mash made up of warm water (not too hot) and chick starter.

I dip their beaks into the food and encourage them to eat that way.

This has worked well when it's just been a case of a smaller chick getting pushed away from the feed. For whatever reason, they won't pay any attention to the crumbles, but once I mash them with water they are usually all over it.

 

[cjeanean]

thanks so much!!! I'll try that now!!! Any other advice??? I read somewhere on here to make small 'balls' of wet feed and place it in their mouths to get them to eat, but I'm really leery of doing it that way unless the chick will probably die anyway and I've tried everything else. Thanks again!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

See if you can get them to eat from your finger tips. Warm mushy feed and offering it to them from your finger tips to encourage them.

 

[cjeanean]

I mixed the feed with some warm water and all four chicks gave it some attention, one began eating immediately. However, as it was eating I noticed some clear liquid drip front its beak. What the heck is it???

 

[MissPrissy]

The crop might be full of water.

Let them eat a little then take the food and water away for a while to let it digest.

Then give them back the mushy feed before you give them water. They may be filling up on the water and not eating like they should.

 

[Wynette]

Mine loved yogurt mixed in with their feed at that age. I also was going to mention...if they made it to 7 weeks already, then they surely must be eating....?

 

[cjeanean]

Just now the chick that had the liquid drip from its beak pooped what appeared to be a runny, slightly bloody poop. From what I've read on here that's the sign of coccidis, however NONE of the other chickens are acting like this!!!! All the others are healthy and pooping normal. Are there other things that can cause bloody stool??? Like the fact that they haven't been able to eat??? Can lack of food cause this???

 

[cjeanean]

Quote:
Yes, they've been eating....just recently (I noticed it yesterday cause they weren't running around like normal) they've been acting funny. None of my other 56 chickens (21 7 wk olds and 30 12wks and up) are acting weird. they've been together in the same coop for about 2 weeks now (I added the 7 wk olds at 5 weeks). I thought diseases affect the entire flock, especially if they're all together!!!

 

[MissPrissy]

If you suspect cocci then sulmet is added to the water for treatment. Your feed store should have it.