so i have a farm in eastern europe and wanted to try emus. i bought 6 eggs at a UK farm with plenty of breeding pairs. took them back on the planr just as lockdown came into effect so i had plenty of time to pay attention to the incubation. out of 6, 5 hatched fine, one needed help because that egg didnt lose enough water. shell was smoother than usual.
that weak chick died after about a week i found huge retained yolk inside.
all the rest were healthy and active and after a few days were eating and drinking, the weather turned really nice so they even went out in the garden for a few hours in a long rabbitwire run. all great.
then a couple of days later one smaller chick started getting lethargic, sitting on his haunches wobbling and sleeping. was advised to put tetracycline in the water, seemed to be drinking it as were the others. i measure the water and they drink a lot. he gets worse, seems cold so he goes under the heat lamp again. later he died, autopsy found small heavily veined yolk sac (assume that means nutrients were being adsorbed from it)
the rest were fine running around very alert and active, eating well: cabbage, puppy biscuits, chick starter, carrots, etc all chopped finely in the blender.
yesterday i left them in the garden again while i did some chores and on returning i found one of the biggest and most active also sitting looking very tired, going the same way as the rest.
another keeper suggested they are getting too much food so i put them back inside and removed the food (was available 24h before).
today i put the feeder in for a few minutes and the sleepy one woke up and got some chicken starter, so seems hungry.
i was suggested to get some metronidazole from the vet monday and feed it with some dextrose/honey water by syringe.
i have read on forums this exact scenario of sleepy sickness playing out badly but never any solution, detailed reasoning or conclusions, etc.
maybe some of the more experienced ratite owners/breeders can help make this the final and stickied thread on the topic, or link to a page with all the answers!
that weak chick died after about a week i found huge retained yolk inside.
all the rest were healthy and active and after a few days were eating and drinking, the weather turned really nice so they even went out in the garden for a few hours in a long rabbitwire run. all great.
then a couple of days later one smaller chick started getting lethargic, sitting on his haunches wobbling and sleeping. was advised to put tetracycline in the water, seemed to be drinking it as were the others. i measure the water and they drink a lot. he gets worse, seems cold so he goes under the heat lamp again. later he died, autopsy found small heavily veined yolk sac (assume that means nutrients were being adsorbed from it)
the rest were fine running around very alert and active, eating well: cabbage, puppy biscuits, chick starter, carrots, etc all chopped finely in the blender.
yesterday i left them in the garden again while i did some chores and on returning i found one of the biggest and most active also sitting looking very tired, going the same way as the rest.
another keeper suggested they are getting too much food so i put them back inside and removed the food (was available 24h before).
today i put the feeder in for a few minutes and the sleepy one woke up and got some chicken starter, so seems hungry.
i was suggested to get some metronidazole from the vet monday and feed it with some dextrose/honey water by syringe.
i have read on forums this exact scenario of sleepy sickness playing out badly but never any solution, detailed reasoning or conclusions, etc.
maybe some of the more experienced ratite owners/breeders can help make this the final and stickied thread on the topic, or link to a page with all the answers!