Help! Chick was choking but now she's just crying with closed eyes????Advice???

[worriedhen]

I'm worried about my 4 day old tiny chick. She was choking and I googled that and rubbed her crop until she gagged up food&water. Now she's just crying or sleeping. Is this normal?? Does this mean she's okay???One of her siblings died earlier today and was choking yesterday. Is this a illness or just the feed being too big???

 

[OreoPlymothRock]

What are you feeding them? You have to feed them chick starter. If its too big, put it in the grinder and make them smaller OR dampen the feed to a kind of mush, not too mushy, but mushy as it breaks in your fingers easily. It is important to feed chicks chick starter is because the starter is ground already. If you are feeding them pellets, I see why they are chocking. Moisten their food, then see how it works.

Hope this helps.

 

[keesmom]

No this is not normal. What are you feeding them? Layer pellets are not suitable for chicks. Flock Raiser crumbles/All Flock crumbles/medicated and non medicated chick starter is what you need.

 

[worriedhen]

Yes I have them on chick starter feed but I'm going to ground that up now. The chick won't eat or drink without force now. Thanks for the advice though. Earlier she coughed up some saliva/vomit and since then she's just half asleep crying. Is there anything I can do to keep her alive? Thanks

 

[Sharon Bee]

I would keep it warm. Make sure it's drinking a little water. Is it with other chicks?

 

[worriedhen]

I have it with 3 other chicks under a heat lamp with water & food but she won't eat or drink.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

I'd say to give her water using a syringe and gently dripping a drop of water on her beak, but it's hard because I don't know why she is still struggling if she already got whatever was lodged in her throat out.
If you can get her to drink, try mixing some Gatorade with her water. It may give her an extra boost.

I'm really sorry to hear about your chick. It's so tough when the little ones are struggling.

Is it possible they are eating their bedding?

Edit:
Just wanted to clarify, don't force water in her beak, dont want her to choke on it. Just a drop on the outside will hopefully get her drinking.

 

[keesmom]

Where did you get them?

 

[worriedhen]

I hatched them with my own hens & rooster and the mother kicked this chick and some others out so they're in a cage with hay & paper towels to sit on.

 

[lazy gardener]

What is the temperature under their lamp? How long has this been going on? Have your older chickens had any "cold like" symptoms?