How do I take a week old chick to the vet?

[Georgetownchick]

I have a chick that is a little over a week old. It is having problems walking and I am going to take it to a vet that treats chickens. How do I transport it? What about the heat lamp? I live in Texas so it is not that cold outside, tomorrow the high will be 70 but I worry about it getting cold while we are gone.

Thanks!

 

[WRVgirl]

Make sure your vet is an avian vet, most veterinarians have limited bird knowledge, so you've got to make sure it's a vet that knows birds.

In my experience, taking a chick to the vet was a waste of time and money. The visit was $95 and in the end the avian vet wanted me to put the $3 chick on a round of $400 medications, and she really couldn't even tell me what she thought was wrong with him, or if the medication was actually going to save or help him. When I chose not to, she charged me $60 to put the chick down...I left feeling sad for losing the chicken, sad for not having $400 for medication for the chick, and angry that I had just spend $155 to put a chick down when I could have just had my husband take care of it when he got home from work [but these were my first chickens and I loved them so much I couldn't bear to not take them to the vet first]

If you're going to transport, I'd just put it in a box with a towel, or wrap one of those hand warmers in a kitchen towel and put it in the box with the chick.

GL.

 

[carolinasculpture]

Hi! When ever I have transported young chicks, I have always carried at least 2 so the 1 doesn't get lonely. Since it won't be that cold where you are, if someone is going with you, they could just hold them in a box on their lap. That should keep them warm enough. If not, I have used the single use hand warmers or a bottle of warm water. Just make sure there is enough room for them to get away from the heat source if they get too warm and if using a water bottle, strap it down so that it doesn't roll over a chick! Good luck! I hope you get a good diagnosis from your vet.