I have a constant peeper in the bunch.

[redinator]

This is my first experience with hatching and raising chicks. I have six little ones, and five of them appear to be happy and healthy. However, one chick is constantly peeping. I've observed it eating, drinking, pooping, and pecking at the others, which all seem like normal behaviors for chicks.

Everything looks good overall; the other chicks don’t seem bothered or alarmed by the peeping, and they’re not pecking at her more than they do with each other. If they were, I would be more worried that she might be sick or weak. I just hope I’m not missing anything important.

I did start them on dewormer yesterday, and all the chicks seemed to enjoy it. I’m not sure if that’s what caused the peeping chick to feel unwell or if it upset her stomach. Maybe she just ate too much? I’m not sure. Aside from the constant peeping, she seems perfectly fine. The sound isn’t loud enough to suggest distress; it’s just persistent.

Interestingly, the peeping stops when I enter the room, and she tries to brood under my hand when I offer feed. Is she just seeking attention? If that’s the case, I can relax and give her some extra love, which sounds great!

Yesterday, I decided to reduce the temperature after spotting a bit of watery poop in the brooder. I learned that this could be a sign of heat stress, which might cause them to drink more to handle the warmth. Since that one instance, I haven't noticed any other watery droppings, so perhaps I should consider raising the heat again. They are 4 days old today. I had been maintaining the temperature at about 90°F, but I lowered it after seeing the watery poop. My coop has two bulbs, a ceramic one I use at night (so they'll sleep since it doesn't emit light), and a heat bulb on a dimmer that I use during the day.

They are on medicated chick starter/grower feed. Let me know if I missed any necessary information and thanks in advance.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Have you checked it for pasty butt?

 

[redinator]

Have you checked it for pasty butt?

No pasty butts, forgot to mention I checked for that too.

 

[rosemarythyme]

She might just be a noisy attention seeker. As long as her other behaviors are all normal I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Neither of these are likely relevant to her noise, but why would you need to deworm 4 day olds?

With the temperature, there should be some variance in the space. 90F is fine in the warmer area but they should have the option of cooling off as well.

 

[redinator]

She might just be a noisy attention seeker. As long as her other behaviors are all normal I wouldn't worry about it too much.

Neither of these are likely relevant to her noise, but why would you need to deworm 4 day olds?

With the temperature, there should be some variance in the space. 90F is fine in the warmer area but they should have the option of cooling off as well.

Glad to hear she's likely just fussy. They're all asleep now, so that makes me feel better that she can settle down.

From what I understood the dewormer is a preventative measure, like deworming puppies. If that's not the case then I won't give them anymore. When should I start the dewormer, when they start going outside, or only if worms are present in the droppings?

There are two bulbs on opposite sides of the brooder, I use the ceramic (non-light emitting one) at night and the heat light during the day, they're both on a dimmer switch. Each bulb keeps the brooder in the mid 80's to low 90's when fully on. The thermometer is centered at the back of the brooder. If it gets too warm (mid 90's or higher) I open the top of the brooder to let some heat out and/or turn the dimmers down. The brooder also has vent holes on the sides near the top. The chicks are usually spread out throughout the brooder happily pecking at various enrichment items in the brooder, eating, drinking and pooping (OMG can they poop) even the noisy one.

I change the toys out when they seem to lose interest in them. The weather has been wet and overcast the last few days so I'm trying to keep them occupied until I can start bringing them outside a few minutes at a time.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Glad to hear she's likely just fussy. They're all asleep now, so that makes me feel better that she can settle down.

Good to hear. Definitely keep an eye on her, but as long as she's eating, drinking and pooping normally, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

From what I understood the dewormer is a preventative measure, like deworming puppies. If that's not the case then I won't give them anymore. When should I start the dewormer, when they start going outside, or only if worms are present in the droppings?

It might depend on what you're using but my understanding is most wormers are not a preventative, they only work on active infestations and I think in many cases it only kills live worms, not even the eggs.

I only worm when I see worms in the droppings. You can also have a fecal test done if a vet is willing to do it, or some folks get microscopes and learn to look for evidence of worms themselves.

There are two bulbs on opposite sides of the brooder, I use the ceramic (non-light emitting one) at night and the heat light during the day, they're both on a dimmer switch. Each bulb keeps the brooder in the mid 80's to low 90's when fully on. The thermometer is centered at the back of the brooder. If it gets too warm (mid 90's or higher) I open the top of the brooder to let some heat out and/or turn the dimmers down. The brooder also has vent holes on the sides near the top. The chicks are usually spread out throughout the brooder happily pecking at various enrichment items in the brooder, eating, drinking and pooping (OMG can they poop) even the noisy one.

That's a good sign. Though I think if you drop the temperature a lot lower in a portion of the brooder you'll still see the same level of activity, and it'll reduce the chance of pasty butt by quite a lot.

As a point of reference I brood outdoors in the spring with days generally between 50-60F. Even at a few days old the chicks actively choose to spend a lot of time out and about without heat, and then will duck under their heat source (a heating pad) to warm up again.

 

[redinator]

Good to hear. Definitely keep an eye on her, but as long as she's eating, drinking and pooping normally, I wouldn't worry too much about it.

It might depend on what you're using but my understanding is most wormers are not a preventative, they only work on active infestations and I think in many cases it only kills live worms, not even the eggs.

I only worm when I see worms in the droppings. You can also have a fecal test done if a vet is willing to do it, or some folks get microscopes and learn to look for evidence of worms themselves.

That's a good sign. Though I think if you drop the temperature a lot lower in a portion of the brooder you'll still see the same level of activity, and it'll reduce the chance of pasty butt by quite a lot.

As a point of reference I brood outdoors in the spring with days generally between 50-60F. Even at a few days old the chicks actively choose to spend a lot of time out and about without heat, and then will duck under their heat source (a heating pad) to warm up again.

I think I figured her out, she doesn't like the quiet. When the TV is on, music playing or the general hustle and bustle in the kitchen (the brooder is in the laundry room next to the kitchen) she settles down. She only gets noisy if it's too quite. I might have to put a battery powered radio in the coop when they go outside, lol, jk. It'll probably stop when they're out and can forage and stretch their legs, she's probably just bored.

Thanks for the information on deworming they're back on straight feed today.

I kinda thought similar about the temperatures but when you look online there's all these charts saying what the temp in the brooder should be according to age. I'll stop overthinking it, lol. Thanks

Update: After a good look this morning I realized the noisy chick (back of the brooder) is noticeably smaller than her hatch mates. I put Nutri-Drench in their water (.5oz ND to .5L Water, I hope my chick math is correct). I figure it wouldn't hurt the rest and might give her a boost in vitamins.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Thanks for the information on deworming they're back on straight feed today.

The dewormer was in the feed? Or are you getting worms and coccidiosis mixed up? A lot of chick feed is medicated with amprolium for coccidiosis (a protozoan parasite). Worms are a different thing.

I kinda thought similar about the temperatures but when you look online there's all these charts saying what the temp in the brooder should be according to age.

Those recommendations are a generalized instruction for commercial settings, where the chickens may never see anything outside of the housing they're in. In a backyard flock it's more advantageous to get the birds used to temperature variations so they can move into their coop and run smoothly.

Update: After a good look this morning I realized the noisy chick (back of the brooder) is noticeably smaller than her hatch mates. I put Nutri-Drench in their water (.5oz ND to .5L Water, I hope my chick math is correct). I figure it wouldn't hurt the rest and might give her a boost in vitamins.

I can see the size difference - only time will tell if she's just runty or if there's something going on with her.

Admittedly I don't measure my Nutri-Drench, I just add "some" to the water for young chicks, just for a few days to give them a quick boost.

 

[redinator]

The dewormer was in the feed? Or are you getting worms and coccidiosis mixed up? A lot of chick feed is medicated with amprolium for coccidiosis (a protozoan parasite). Worms are a different thing.

Those recommendations are a generalized instruction for commercial settings, where the chickens may never see anything outside of the housing they're in. In a backyard flock it's more advantageous to get the birds used to temperature variations so they can move into their coop and run smoothly.

I can see the size difference - only time will tell if she's just runty or if there's something going on with her.

Admittedly I don't measure my Nutri-Drench, I just add "some" to the water for young chicks, just for a few days to give them a quick boost.

They are on MannaPro medicated starter/grower feed and I added dewormer powder on day 4, but switched back to straight starter feed when I was told it isn't necessary unless they are showing signs of worms. I do think I got the two mixed up because I have been reading a lot about meds, supplements and probiotics.

The watery poop had me worried so I kinda started panicking and looking up what could cause it and how to fix it. That has resolved with lowering the temp a bit so they aren't overdrinking to compensate.

I'll keep up with the Nurti-Drench for the next day or so and see what happens. I'm trying not to handle her unless absolutely necessary, because if she is unwell I'm worried the stress of being handled might send her over the edge.

 

[rosemarythyme]

They are on MannaPro medicated starter/grower feed and I added dewormer powder on day 4, but switched back to straight starter feed when I was told it isn't necessary unless they are showing signs of worms. I do think I got the two mixed up because I have been reading a lot about meds, supplements and probiotics.

Gotcha. For the most part healthy chicks need absolutely no extra supplements, commercial feed is formulated to meet their nutritional needs. I do a little Nutri-Drench to help with stress of moving to a new home at the start but unless I see an actual issue, nothing else is needed.

The watery poop had me worried so I kinda started panicking and looking up what could cause it and how to fix it. That has resolved with lowering the temp a bit so they aren't overdrinking to compensate.