Found this tip useful...

[aggielady]

Hello!

I'm new to the site and am new to chickens as of this week.
We are so excited to start this new adventure. We chose Wyandottes and Gold Stars for our little flock of 4. The Wyandottes are about a month old, but when we got our Gold Star chicks, they were only a day old and we learned the feed store had not been properly notified when they arrived. As a result they spent too much time in transit. The feed store owner had concerns that our new chicks may not survive the night after the stress of the long shipment.

I remembered a little suggestion I read in all my planning and research before getting chickens.
They suggested dissolving a bit of sugar in their water (about a teaspoon to tablespoon, depending on the amount of water given).
Gently dip the chick's beak in the water to show them where it is. The chick will be thirsty and the sugar will both entice them to drink more and also give them a little more energy.

I mentioned this to several of my more experienced "chicken-raising" friends and they had never heard of adding sugar to the water. My chicks are lively and doing great, and I wanted to share in case it could help anyone else!

Best of luck to you all!

 

[AK Baha]

Hello and welcome.

Thanks for the info.

 

[Veer67]

The season for getting baby chicks for me is over, though I might hatch some chicks in the summer. You can also try using apple cider vinegar.

 

[Fierlin1182]

Hi and

Nice tip! I used to try the beak dipping thing but never the sugar. The chicks generally wouldn't take to the water at all until they, I dunno, accidentally trod in it or something and realised what it was.

Enjoy your chickens!

 

[aggielady]

The chicks generally wouldn't take to the water at all until they, I dunno, accidentally trod in it or something and realised what it was.

Enjoy your chickens!

Veer67: Thank you! I think I read about the vinegar on the same site I read about the sugar, but I can't remember-- isn't the vinegar good to use on a regular basis as well to keep the chickens healthy and the water clean? I don't really remember. I will be sure to try it though

You can also try using apple cider vinegar.

Thanks again!

 

[drumstick diva]

People do give a bit of sugar in the water for chicks that aren't doing real well or won't drink. Sometimes it helps to give them a drop of polyvisol (NO IRON) infant drops 3 x a day to give them a boost.

 

[sumi]

Welcome to BYC

Sugar water can be a great help with weak/stressed chicks. I've seen it perk up chicks who had difficult drawn out hatches as well. It is definitely a good tip! The apple cider vinegar (we call it ACV here) is fantastic for chickens of all ages. It is said to help prevent cocci in chicks and I know it helps prevent pasty butt in chicks. (A potentially fatal condition, when poop clog up chick's vent, making it impossible for it to go). There are quite a few discussions on ACV and it's uses here, but I think you'll find this thread interesting:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...osis-and-other-poultry-diseases-in-chicks-acv

Please note, all kinds of ACV has benefits, but the absolute best one is an organic vinegar with the "mother" in it.

 

[liz9910]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[aggielady]

Thank you all for the warm welcome. I'm thrilled to say that it has been a fun month. My coop was completed on Saturday and my chicks (now one month and two month pullets) are doing well and seem to be a happy little flock.

 

[All Henned Up]

Welcome and enjoy!
Steve.