I think I killed my chick

[Laken21]

This morning I went to check on my chicks and one had a mass of dried poop on her. I had been worried about her for some time- never the most active gal. She wasnt pasted up but when I went to pick her up she didnt give any fight. I had been weighing her daily and she hadnt gain but hadnt lost anything for 4 days. I decided that I should try to hand feed her. She took a couple of sips with gusto but when I put her down she just flopped. I tried to give her yogurt and feed but she wouldnt really swallow and I couldnt really get it in her beak with just one hand. I was using a baby feeding syringe and it stopped up then shot all over her nose. I was dabbing it at the side of her beak She shook her head but then it happened again. Her tone just got worse and worse until I decided to just hold her until she passed away. I felt like a total clutz trying to help her. I read somewhere that if they get water in their nose they can die right away. She died like 15 min after I squirted her. I am horrified. I had been watching her sometimes for an hour at a time and she seemed to be eating and rather active but i guess I never saw her drinking, just near the water.

 

[dawg53]

It sounds like she wasnt a healthy chick to begin with. It was probably best that she passed. Sorry for your loss.

 

[settingdusk]

Aw, that sucks. Don't let it discourage you, you have other cute little chicks depending on you. Things happen. Sometimes you lose a chick or two, sometimes you lose them all.

 

[Laken21]

Thanks but is it a real possibility that I did "drown" her? I just dont want to make that mistake again.

 

[settingdusk]

Eh, tough to say. Put less in a dropper and only feed if you know the chick isn't feeding. The first 24 hours or so after hatching they don't eat, they just sleep. You can mix some water with the chick food and dip its beak in it that will convince the chick to start eating. You also need to dip the chicks beak gently in the water as well to teach it to drink. I usually get a drop of water on my finger and gently touch the mouth and the chick drinks it.

 

[Laken21]

Eh, tough to say. Put less in a dropper and only feed if you know the chick isn't feeding. The first 24 hours or so after hatching they don't eat, they just sleep. You can mix some water with the chick food and dip its beak in it that will convince the chick to start eating. You also need to dip the chicks beak gently in the water as well to teach it to drink. I usually get a drop of water on my finger and gently touch the mouth and the chick drinks it.

It was just water and there wasn't much in the dropper its just that it got caught then gave quickly- crappy syringe. She was two weeks old. I am just wondering if her aspirating the water could really lead to death- not like she was submerged, just splashed up across her nose enough to dribble down the other side of her face.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It is tough to say, like settingdusk said.

Don't beat yourself up...you were trying to help!
I am sorry for your loss.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

It sounds like she wasnt a healthy chick to begin with. It was probably best that she passed. Sorry for your loss.

x2

For giving liquids I dribble alongside the beak with a syringe and that works for me.

 

[chkn]

No sweetie, that didn't kill her. You see sometimes they're so far gone, any little shock finishes them off. It's frustrating and you feel helpless sometimes but you did the best you could.

 

[chkn]

You know what works good with a dropper (for liquids anyway), is to just set the chicken on your lap (with a towel or something), and dropper one or two drops at a time on the top of the beak. Watch for the bird to sip it down, then repeat. It's much easier than forcing it. It helps if the liquid is tasty, say with a dab of gatorade. Do this for as long as they will drink. That will usually get the appetite going.

I know when I use the wormer on my chickens, it's easier just to do the squirt. I wouldn't do the squirt for any other reason. But I sort of squat down and have the chicken down in front of me so they can't back up. Then I used one hand to gently squeeze the checks to open up and then do the squirt (they don't like wormer so that's the only way).

An ill chicken, and hydration is always good, do the sippy-sip, drip drip method. On top of the beak it naturally flows down into the mouth. Try it with one of your chickens with some tasty water. I have one hen that almost grabs at it like a goat. Most are happy sipping.