Just Hatched Chick More Listless Than Others

[tgperg]

Hello. I have a day old (more like 18 hours according to the hatchery) Dominique pullet that is acting more sluggish than her hatchmates. I drove down to the hatchery this morning and picked out 10 chicks, 7 pullets and 3 cockerels. I brought them straight home so they were out of the hatchery brooder and into my brooder in less than two hours. The others are all zipping around the little brooder eating starter crumbles and drinking water with a bit of sugar in it. This one rests a lot and doesn't eat crumbles. She also doesn't make effort to drink. I separated her from the others and have been letting her lick drops of sugar water with vitamins and electrolytes from the end of a syringe (not forcing it into her mouth). I'm keeping her warm in my bra. None of the chicks have pasty butt. This little pullet has a bit of the umbilical cord still attached. None of the others do. She has no signs of respiratory difficulty, no drainage around the nostrils or eyes. Any idea what could be going on with her? I don't want to cull her if she's just a few hours younger than the other ones and maybe a little less spritely because of that. But I also don't want her making my other chicks sick. I'm waiting for dark to slip these guys under my broody who is just now hatching out some other chicks. I'd sure appreciate any advice.

Here's a picture of the umbilical cord.

 

[Miss Lydia]

I'd leave the cord part alone it will dry up and heal up. I don't think I'd ever have chicks without 2 products 1. savachick it's a electrolute and vitamin supplement i got at TSC, the other is called Grogel Plus B super hydrating gel plus nutririon for chicks, chicks come right after being hatched and with that comes alot of stress, hense pasty butt and other issues, so these 2 products help with that. Hopefully she is just slower in getting started and after putting under your broody will pick up and become one of the thriving chicks..

I'd be offering her water dribbled along side of her beak and then let mama take over tomorrow, but you especially want to keep her hydrated.. All the best and let us know how she is..

 

[klmclain1]

Sounds like they came from the hatchery and she doesn't have "mama" at home. You're doing exactly what I did - my husband laughed at me then and is laughing at you now! Putting them in our bras for warmth!! Unfortunately, mine didn't make it. I even called the hatchery and they said I was doing everything right. But yours is still really young. I'll bet she'll come around. Hang in there and keep offering the liquids!

 

[tgperg]

I kept her hydrated through the afternoon/evening and then I put her under the mama hen with the others. She may not make it, but if she doesn't make it with mama, she certainly ain't gonna make it in the brooder by herself.

Traci

 

[tgperg]

I checked on the chicks yesterday 04/01 and they were all still alive and mama hen was guarding them quite possessively.

Traci

 

[Ellen Neudecker]

Good luck with your little one. Hope that all is going well! When we got our 8 chicks last year, there was one who was smaller and listless. We kept her i with her siblings and watched to make sure she was eating and drinking (even though she didn't do it as frequently as the others). We had to encourage the eating and drinking. It took about three weeks until she caught up with the rest but she finally did! We could see her getting a little stronger and more active each day. Today, she is very healthy and happy...but still the smallest of our girls. Keep the faith. I wish you the best!

 

[tgperg]

Well, they're six days old now and all are still alive. It's looking good so far.

Traci

 

[klmclain1]

Yippee!!!!

 

[Miss Lydia]

 

[tgperg]

I am very sad to report that the little one didn't make it. I went out today to check on all of them and it was droopy and listless. It had a pasty butt. I brought it in and cleaned it off and started giving it water with sugar, electrolytes and some egg yolk from a fresh laid egg. I guess it was too late though. The baby chick just died in my hands. Thank you for following the thread.

Traci