Help I think I have sick babies!!!

[RodNTN]

Yes I got them this morning from the post office. They came from Indiana so it was not a easy journey for them.

I agree with @happyhens1972, I have passed my brooder and my heart has stopped beating when I see my day old chicks dead-like in the brooder. And their legs are kicking our from under them? Once I had some new chicks who were sleeping all day, and sometimes they would go forward and their legs would come out from under them because they were dead asleep.

 

[happyhens1972]

We cross posted there....you may need to provide a cooler cool spot! If they only arrived today then they will need some recovery time but if you have some Nutri Drench, that would be a good idea....and you could dip their beaks in a drop on the back of your hand to make sure they actually take it in. Here in the UK, we have Nutri Drops....they are given 'neat' and I always use the back-of-the-hand method on weak chicks. It works wonders!

 

[NikAndHerChicks]

Aww. Poor little peanuts! Traveling can be rough on them. Do you have any electrolytes in their water? Have you seen these 2 chicks drink any water at all yet? Sometimes they just need a little boost. I hope they perk up for you.

 

[Aliasofryan]

Idk everyone I think I may just be over reacting since I’m a first time owner. That’s what my wife is saying. But I don’t want to act as

I hope your chicks are OK....I can't promise anything but just so you know, it is very normal for young chicks to sleep A LOT!!! And when they do, they often just 'face plant'. They go from running around doing chickeny things to looking like a dead thing in about a millisecond! The photo certainly doesn't immediately cause me to worry, just looks like a sleepy chick but it's other things you need to watch for. Are the chicks eating, drinking? Are they huddled by the light (brooder too cool) or avoiding the light (brooder too warm) Have you checked the temperatures? The 'laying with their leg out' may be an indicator of it being too warm....do they have an area away from the heat source they can escape to? There should be cool spots. Are they peeping a lot, making loud, distressed cheeping or are they pretty quiet, just cheeping when active (sign of happy chicks)

Sorry for all the q's but more info will help determine if you have normal sleepy chicks or potentially poorly ones xx

No you’re fine i need this lol. They seem pretty content just mild peeping here and there. Except when I step up to the brooder then it’s “STRANGER DANGER!” Lol. But they usually calm back down in a few moments. And temps are currently 95/88 I have digital thermometers at either end of the brooders. My wife just suggested they may feel crowded since we have 17 in one brooder, but I didn’t want to stress them any more since they came from Indiana in 2 days by mail. I was going to move half to my other brooder that’s set up and ready to go

 

[Aliasofryan]

So I just noticed that the two babies acting strange won’t open their eyes. I’ve picked them up and they still remained closed. Idk if that’s a sign for anything

 

[happyhens1972]

If you don't have any of the stuff suggested, like Nutri Drench or electrolytes, then some honey mixed in water or even just sugar water will do in a pinch. Place a drop on the back of your hand so it stays in a little 'bubble', then dip the tip of the chick's beak in it. The chick should naturally lap it up. Then let them rest. Repeat every hour for a few hours and hopefully they will perk up....but Nutri Drench would be better if you can get it. Apparently there is also something you can get in the States called GelGro which is meant to be very good but never tried it myself, it's not available in UK.

You may also have to accept that, sadly, not all chicks survive the stresses of shipping. It's an awful lot for a tiny baby to go through so soon after the enormous stress of hatching. Good luck xxx

 

[Ruralhideaway]

I feel they may be overheated. Very very easy to have this happen to them with the light.

Dimensions of the brooder, wattage of the lamp, and height it's hung from the floor, if not actual photos, would be helpful.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

88 is too hot at the cool end. Should be human room temp there.

 

[happyhens1972]

I feel they may be overheated. Very very easy to have this happen to them with the light.

Dimensions of the brooder, wattage of the lamp, and height it's hung from the floor, if not actual photos, would be helpful.

I agree, hence my comment 'you may need a cooler cool spot'. And with 17 babies in there, they will generate a fair bit of heat and humidity of their own. Remember, in the wild, chicks would be running around in the normal ambient temperatures of Spring, before returning to mum for a quick warm up....so the brooder needs hot spots for the 'mum' bit....and cool temperatures for the 'running around in Spring' bit xx

 

[lazy gardener]

Poultry Nutri Drench, full strength, if they are not too far gone to take a drop of it, Put a couple tablespoon of sugar in their water, or mix up some electrolytes: 1/2 tsp each of salt and baking soda, 2 tablespoons of sugar per qt of water.

IMO, your brooder is too small to provide the temperature gradients needed for chick health. This is why I am so opposed to heat lamps and tote brooding. A large appliance box and a MHP style heat system provide a much safer environment.