Hi everyone,
I had this happen with the last incubation I did and it still has be looking for answers.
After all the hatching was complete, I moved my new chicks to the broader where there were starter crumbles and water waiting for them. The very first chick I put in went straight to the crumbles and immediately began what I can only describe as choking. She was doing what looked like gasping for air and sticking her head up and elongating her neck. It literally was her very first piece of food. I tried dripping some water into her mouth in hopes of the food getting soft but it wasn't more than a minute later and she died right there in my hands.
From then on, I started grinding the feed up even smaller. She was a very healthy looking and moving chick. Had no problems hatching. Was getting around perfectly and was essentially perfect until that first bite of food.
Other than dripping water into her mouth I didn't know what else there was to do. To this day it hurts my heart that I wasn't able to do anything to help.
Has anyone else ever experienced this? Were you able to help and save the chick? What did you do? Do you have any suggestions for me if I encounter this again?
Thanks everyone!
I had this happen with the last incubation I did and it still has be looking for answers.
After all the hatching was complete, I moved my new chicks to the broader where there were starter crumbles and water waiting for them. The very first chick I put in went straight to the crumbles and immediately began what I can only describe as choking. She was doing what looked like gasping for air and sticking her head up and elongating her neck. It literally was her very first piece of food. I tried dripping some water into her mouth in hopes of the food getting soft but it wasn't more than a minute later and she died right there in my hands.
From then on, I started grinding the feed up even smaller. She was a very healthy looking and moving chick. Had no problems hatching. Was getting around perfectly and was essentially perfect until that first bite of food.
Other than dripping water into her mouth I didn't know what else there was to do. To this day it hurts my heart that I wasn't able to do anything to help.
Has anyone else ever experienced this? Were you able to help and save the chick? What did you do? Do you have any suggestions for me if I encounter this again?
Thanks everyone!
