Our chick order took a full 24 hours longer than expected to arrive from TX to our home in rural MO. They were on the road for 50 hours and we had snow last night. When I opened the box of 31 only 7 were standing and chirping. I hand warmed a couple on the 20 minute ride from the Post Office then quickly got everyone under the light once we were home. I took them out of the box to get drinks as they came around. Several that I thought were dead were actually breathing and once warmed and given a bit of sugar water made rapid improvement. So, I have 18 who are eating, drinking, and walking around and I have two that are alive and improving, but still very weak. I have those two in a separate brooder so they can rest and not be trampled. I am helping them drink a little sugar water every hour or so. Is there anything else I can do to help them recover?
The only thing I can think of is to get some electrolytes into them...sav a chick or something like that.
Mix them up wet feed made with warm sugar water. This way they can get started eating and drinking at the same time.. Keep em warm, and watch for flip overs. Good luck!
Thanks for the suggestions. I will mix them up some food as that is my biggest concern. They aren't eating yet, but they are starting to move around a bit. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I would get them warm with heat. Get them some hard boiled eggs and some rice see if they will eat. Get sugar water out with some Vita Sol liquid vitamin water and add to it organic apple cider vinegar. if they are 1 week old 85 degrees 2 weeks 80 degrees of heat 3 weeks 75 degrees on 5 degrees less each week until week 7 when completely feathered out. You may loose a couple if your lucky all will survive. In the future let them know you are in a rural area and to order from a hatchery that is closer to you. Here are a couple to copy and keep on hand; www.chickensforbackyards.com/ www.mcmurrayhatchery.com/ www.idealpoultry.com/ www.mypetchicken.com/ www.mthealthy.com/ www.Meyerhatchery.com Good luck you and they will do just fine and
