I received shipped chicks last Wednesday from Cackle. 17 bantams total. I lost 4 in shipping, and another 3 in the next two days. They all looked DOA and were very cold. I am down to 10 chicks now, and one is a runt. He has very little feather growth and is tiny compared to his flock mates. I am providing and trying the following, since he is moving around some and chirping constantly but not eating and drinking on his own:
-ACV, probiotics, and electrolytes in water
-Syringe feeding 4 times a day (moistened chick starter with boiled egg yolk). Crop massage after to expel air, or else crop feels like a balloon. Crop empties after about 2 hours.
-Separated from the others by a cage in the brooder with his own food and water dishes
-Temp is at 99 degrees on the floor with plenty of room for him to move away if too hot
-Checked for pasty butt, not present. Cleaned his bottom anyways and emptied his bowel to check poop for abnormalities.
-Poop resembled chick starter with lots of bubbles and gas.
-No foul odors on chick or coming from mouth
-Belly looks and feels as it should, no swelling or discoloration
-Legs and feet look good, chick wobbles a little when walking
-Eyes and nose look ok, no discharge present, chick spends a lot of time standing still with eyes closed
I live in the middle of nowhere, so not much access to any supplies. I did give honey water to all chicks upon arrival and it helped, but I have stopped it now since the rest are doing great. This little one just isn't thriving. He is energetic and tries to get out of my hand when I open his beak to push food. Just not eating/drinking on his own or growing. Should I give it some more time with the hand feedings and see if there is improvement? I would hate to have to cull after putting in all this effort. Any suggestions? Am I forgetting something?
-ACV, probiotics, and electrolytes in water
-Syringe feeding 4 times a day (moistened chick starter with boiled egg yolk). Crop massage after to expel air, or else crop feels like a balloon. Crop empties after about 2 hours.
-Separated from the others by a cage in the brooder with his own food and water dishes
-Temp is at 99 degrees on the floor with plenty of room for him to move away if too hot
-Checked for pasty butt, not present. Cleaned his bottom anyways and emptied his bowel to check poop for abnormalities.
-Poop resembled chick starter with lots of bubbles and gas.
-No foul odors on chick or coming from mouth
-Belly looks and feels as it should, no swelling or discoloration
-Legs and feet look good, chick wobbles a little when walking
-Eyes and nose look ok, no discharge present, chick spends a lot of time standing still with eyes closed
I live in the middle of nowhere, so not much access to any supplies. I did give honey water to all chicks upon arrival and it helped, but I have stopped it now since the rest are doing great. This little one just isn't thriving. He is energetic and tries to get out of my hand when I open his beak to push food. Just not eating/drinking on his own or growing. Should I give it some more time with the hand feedings and see if there is improvement? I would hate to have to cull after putting in all this effort. Any suggestions? Am I forgetting something?