Getting baby chicks in and helping a struggling chick.

[reindeermama]

I received baby chicks in the mail on Friday. One was in definite trouble. I was very worried. So I scanned threads here, left and right. I ended up giving the baby chick 1 drop of Nutri Drench. I then used an eye dropper to feed it water. It wouldn't drink even after dipping its beak in the waterer. Every 30 minutes we would give it water mixed with an electrolyte mixture powder bought at the feed store. I had all of this on hand from shopping earlier and just throwing things in the basket I thought I might need for chickens. We boiled an egg and mashed the yolk and fed it to the little one also. We repeated water and egg yolk every 30 minutes for about 4 hours. We still couldn't get it to eat or drink with the other little chicks. So I thought well it is on its own from now on, at least it was no longer wobbly and seemed a little better. Finally in the evening it came out with the other chicks and ate from the feeder and drank from the waterer. I tried absolutely everything I read, including putting on classical music in the background which is supposed to soothe animals.Here we are on Sunday and so far it is looking up for this poor little chick. I don't know that we are completely out of the woods yet, but this little baby is still doing pretty good. It is funny, if I turn off the the music the little chicks peep loudly, and when I turn it back on peace reins supreme. Lol.
I hope this helps out somebody that might have the same problem. I have learned so much from reading all the threads.

 

[Tansie]

Glad they are doing better now maybe it was a little bit younger than the others, or was just more stressed by travelling. Hopefully as it comes to terms with their new home they will flourish

 

[3riverschick]

Hi !,

Just excellent you gave it a drop of Nutri-Drench. It has saved a lot of chicks! Probably it was the travel stress. It's just fine to keep giving it a drop a day for the next 2 weeks. I raise all my birds with 2ml of Nutri-Drench per gallon of water for the 1st 2 to 3 weeks of life. Really gets them off to a strong start. Plus, as you know, it doesn't need to be digested like the electrolytes. Since you have the electrolytes in the water already ( that's a good thing) for this chick, just give it a drop a day for a couple of weeks till it catches up. It won't hurt to use it in addition to the electrolyte water. You did everything right!! Impressive!

Best Success,
Karen

 

[reindeermama]

Thanks, It is so nice to be able to search these threads and get solutions. I am so glad you told me about giving it a drop and using it in the water. I didn't want to overdo it. I wouldn't have known what to do if I hadn't been able to look it up on here. It is so funny, this little chick is getting to be the feistiest one in the bunch.

 

[Mutt Farm]

Would you be ok saying which hatchery? I always worry how healthy they started and how healthy they will arrive.

 

[reindeermama]

The hatchery was not the problem. It was Papa's Poultry, He is in California,.The chicks were shipped correctly and he had provided little containers of food in with them and a heat pack. The Post Office dropped the ball and they spent an extra night in one Post Office and this added an extra day to the shipping time. He shipped them two day express. I also live in Texas, so it was a long journey and hot too. I would recommend Papa's anytime. He is very good and very concerned about what he sends out. He is extremely conscientious and wonderful to work with. In fact, since you are in California, I would not hesitate to recommend Papa's Poultry to you. One of the breeds I ordered did not hatch out and he substituted a more expensive chick and even through I offered to pay him more, he said not to worry about it, especially since the little one was sick. He also sends emails to let you know when he ships them so you can be waiting for them. I was at the Post Office at 6 a.m. He is really nice and I believe you couldn't go wrong with him. All the other chicks were fine, but extra time in shipping is not good and this one was one of the younger chicks. I have not ordered from any other hatcheries. He has a face book page too and an online store. The chicks are beautiful. I will try to figure out how to post a picture of the chicks.

 

[reindeermama]

The "sickie" is the third from the left in the row of the five chicks. I don't even think you can tell now. They are hanging out under the brooder light. There are three Crested Cream Legbars, one Wyandotte blue/black/ red laced Splash, and two Sussex. See how pretty his chicks are. I really would recommend him.

 

[Mutt Farm]

The hatchery was not the problem. It was Papa's Poultry, He is in California,.The chicks were shipped correctly and he had provided little containers of food in with them and a heat pack. The Post Office dropped the ball and they spent an extra night in one Post Office and this added an extra day to the shipping time. He shipped them two day express. I also live in Texas, so it was a long journey and hot too. I would recommend Papa's anytime. He is very good and very concerned about what he sends out. He is extremely conscientious and wonderful to work with. In fact, since you are in California, I would not hesitate to recommend Papa's Poultry to you. One of the breeds I ordered did not hatch out and he substituted a more expensive chick and even through I offered to pay him more, he said not to worry about it, especially since the little one was sick. He also sends emails to let you know when he ships them so you can be waiting for them. I was at the Post Office at 6 a.m. He is really nice and I believe you couldn't go wrong with him. All the other chicks were fine, but extra time in shipping is not good and this one was one of the younger chicks. I have not ordered from any other hatcheries. He has a face book page too and an online store. The chicks are beautiful. I will try to figure out how to post a picture of the chicks.

Thank you for the reply! We should have swapped suppliers! I received 5 special babies from a supplier in Tx. So sweet,, their children even added a note. They asked me to let them know they arrived safely, how much food they had left, if they ate the cucumber or the cantaloupe or both! Babies were packed nicely with fresh food and heat. Me too on Post Office! Chicks were a day late! I was beside myself. I don't know the name of the small family hatchery that shipped the chicks, original order was to Meyer's, but here is their #. 254-230-0405. I'll be looking up Papa's!

 

[Mutt Farm]

FAT cute healthy peepers!

 

[reindeermama]

Yep, we probably should have switched. It sounds like we both found really good suppliers. I am so glad you got your 5 babies and they were okay. At least we know about nutri drench now. It must be a post office thing. Thanks so much for the order. Papa's Poultry has excellent reviews on several thread on here. If you just type in Papa's Poultry they will show up on the search. You will have to post a picture of your babies. There is nothing cuter than fluffy chicks.