Hatching with Kinky Back?

[Paz]

I'm sorry for your loss

 

[ZawbytheSea]

Update: I just gave the chicks their second round of Nutri-Drench today, after about 9 hours. And good news - this is the first time none of them are peeping insistently in distress! In fact, they were so quiet when I went in there, I was worried something had happened. But now, after their second dosing and a quick brooder cleanup, they’re all peeping contentedly with the exception of the occasional chick-shoving-scuffle.

The two who were having issues are still not completely normal - one is still standing very straight, but is at least not “stuck” looking down while standing straight, it seems. And they both pooped while I was giving them ND and a little food.

It’s possible they’re not distressed simply because they’re getting something in their bellies, and the root issue is not resolved - but it’s a step in the right direction so far, and I’m feeling optimistic.

(For dosage, I’m putting several drops of Nutri-Drench into about 1.5 tsp of water (in a children’s medicine dosing cup cut in half to make it shallow), and letting the chicks drink individually in my hand until they’re done. I had initially tried using one drop of ND straight-up, but they seemed to have trouble with the thickness of it.)

 

[ZawbytheSea]

Update: the smallest, weakest chick just passed last night, so we’re down to two. One that’s been healthy and vibrant from the beginning, and another that’s weak, with eyes mostly closed, back to peeping constantly and stumbling, that was off from the very beginning.

I’m not sure what to do at this point. I’ve continued giving Nutri-Drench twice a day, and they’re still not making it

If it isn’t a vitamin deficiency and is instead some other physical ailment, there’s nothing I can do, and then I’m down to just one, lone bantam chick. What should I do with this last? It shouldn’t be alone, but no one is selling chicks right now…what a mess. Advice/experience appreciated

 

[Paz]

Update: the smallest, weakest chick just passed last night, so we’re down to two. One that’s been healthy and vibrant from the beginning, and another that’s weak, with eyes mostly closed, back to peeping constantly and stumbling, that was off from the very beginning.

I’m not sure what to do at this point. I’ve continued giving Nutri-Drench twice a day, and they’re still not making it

If it isn’t a vitamin deficiency and is instead some other physical ailment, there’s nothing I can do, and then I’m down to just one, lone bantam chick. What should I do with this last? It shouldn’t be alone, but no one is selling chicks right now…what a mess. Advice/experience appreciated

Where are you from, I'm pretty sure in the US they ship chicks all across the country.

 

[NatJ]

Where are you from, I'm pretty sure in the US they ship chicks all across the country.

They do, but there are minimum order sizes (ranging from 3 to 30, depending on the hatchery and the season). And most hatcheries offer many breeds in the spring and early summer, but by fall and winter they offer fewer breeds or even stop entirely until the next spring. So getting more chicks is still possible, but not as easy as it would be earlier in the year.

 

[Paz]

They do, but there are minimum order sizes (ranging from 3 to 30, depending on the hatchery and the season). And most hatcheries offer many breeds in the spring and early summer, but by fall and winter they offer fewer breeds or even stop entirely until the next spring. So getting more chicks is still possible, but not as easy as it would be earlier in the year.

Just get it some fluffy friends, three is nothing, it's ok, especially if three are dead.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Just get it some fluffy friends, three is nothing, it's ok, especially if three are dead.

I know of one hatchery in the US that has a 3 minimum, and they are not one you can just buy from on a whim. Granted i do not know every single hatchery, but considering that out of all the ones I do know about, only 1 has a minimum that low, odds are not great there are many more safe options. Lowest I've seen other than them is IDEAL, which is a 30 dollar minimum which is about 7 chicks at the lowest, usually more

 

[NatJ]

I know of one hatchery in the US that has a 3 minimum, and they are not one you can just buy from on a whim. Granted i do not know every single hatchery, but considering that out of all the ones I do know about, only 1 has a minimum that low, odds are not great there are many more safe options. Lowest I've seen other than them is IDEAL, which is a 30 dollar minimum which is about 7 chicks at the lowest, usually more

I find about the same as you

www.cacklehatchery.com has a minimum of 3, but they only ship chicks from February to September (so not available now, in November.)

www.meyerhatchery.com has a minimum of 3 from April to November, and 8 the rest of the year.

www.mcmurrayhatchery.com has a minimum of 6 from April through October, minimum 25 outside those months.

www.welphatchery.com has a minimum order of 25.

www.idealpoultry.com has a minimum of $30, which means different numbers of chicks depending on the price, but usually at least 7.

www.dunlaphatcherypoultry.com has a minimum of 25, and only ships chicks from February through June (so not now.)

www.hoovershatchery.com has a minimum of 15 chicks.

www.mypetchicken.com/ has a minimum that changes based on where they are shipping to, but is sometimes as low as 3.

Any of the places with minimums under 15 chicks will have a big surcharge. Orders of 15 or more chicks usually have enough body heat to keep each other warm, which is why the smaller orders need different packing, heat packs, and maybe other special treatment (and that's why the hatchery charges extra money.)

I think of that whole list, only meyer and mypetchicken have small minimums and are still shipping. (I have no personal experience with either of them, so I do not directly know anything good or bad about them.)

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I find about the same as you

www.cacklehatchery.com has a minimum of 3, but they only ship chicks from February to September (so not available now, in November.)

www.meyerhatchery.com has a minimum of 3 from April to November, and 8 the rest of the year.

www.mcmurrayhatchery.com has a minimum of 6 from April through October, minimum 25 outside those months.

www.welphatchery.com has a minimum order of 25.

www.idealpoultry.com has a minimum of $30, which means different numbers of chicks depending on the price, but usually at least 7.

www.dunlaphatcherypoultry.com has a minimum of 25, and only ships chicks from February through June (so not now.)

www.hoovershatchery.com has a minimum of 15 chicks.

www.mypetchicken.com/ has a minimum that changes based on where they are shipping to, but is sometimes as low as 3.

Any of the places with minimums under 15 chicks will have a big surcharge. Orders of 15 or more chicks usually have enough body heat to keep each other warm, which is why the smaller orders need different packing, heat packs, and maybe other special treatment (and that's why the hatchery charges extra money.)

I think of that whole list, only meyer and mypetchicken have small minimums and are still shipping. (I have no personal experience with either of them, so I do not directly know anything good or bad about them.)

I was not aware Cackle lowered their minimum. So I guess I know 2 know (MPC minimum is 4 here, unless you want any bantams, then it's at least 5).

Feather Lover Farms has the 3 minimum I know about, but you can't just order for the next hatxh, you have to be on a list and they're too expensive to just buy on a whim. Plus they're not super trustworthy either

 

[ZawbytheSea]

Thanks everyone! I reached out on a local chicken page, and was told about a farm store in the next state (1.5 hour drive) that had a shipment of chicks. Spent a little over 3 hours Friday morning driving, but I picked up two Easter Eggers and a Rhode Island Red, all pullets.

My little bantam is now happily in the company of other chicks, and has settled in very nicely (after an initial bout of posturing and pecking on his/her part - the newcomers are very mellow).