Lathargic. Weak. Sleepy chick. HELP!!!!

[flowerladyMA]

Help. This is my first time owning chicks. I picked 6 of them up on Tuesday of this week. They are not brand new but TSC told me they were born 3/1 but there is no way they are a month old. Anyways. One of the 6 black chicks started to be lathargic today I noticed that it was standing by itself a lot while the others moved around. I noticed its eyes were closed but it never laid down to sleep. Then I picked the chick up to comfort it and it fell asleep in my hands. Snuggling into my sweatshirt. I read all these forums and so I tired to hand feed the little chick with a dropper and some of the electrolyte and probiotic I have In The water. It's not a fan but won't eat or drink otherwise. I put it back in the box after a good hour of trying water and letting it sit with me. It's poop is normal poop no red like the forums. Any suggestions!?!? I hope he makes it through the night!!!! I'm a nervous new chick mommy.

FYI I give them save a chick in their water along with a heat lamp and chick food from TSC as well. I keep moving the heat to make sure it's not to hot but the box is about 2x2 ft and they seem to have enough room.

 

[Eggcessive]

For any new chick that is lethargic, I would get it to drink by dipping it's beak into water with electrolytes as often as I could. Thermometers on the floor are helpful to keep the temperature of the heat lamp around 90F the first week and decrease 5 each week. Make sure it is not getting pasty butt.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Help. This is my first time owning chicks. I picked 6 of them up on Tuesday of this week. They are not brand new but TSC told me they were born 3/1 but there is no way they are a month old. Anyways. One of the 6 black chicks started to be lathargic today I noticed that it was standing by itself a lot while the others moved around. I noticed its eyes were closed but it never laid down to sleep. Then I picked the chick up to comfort it and it fell asleep in my hands. Snuggling into my sweatshirt. I read all these forums and so I tired to hand feed the little chick with a dropper and some of the electrolyte and probiotic I have In The water. It's not a fan but won't eat or drink otherwise. I put it back in the box after a good hour of trying water and letting it sit with me. It's poop is normal poop no red like the forums. Any suggestions!?!? I hope he makes it through the night!!!! I'm a nervous new chick mommy.

FYI I give them save a chick in their water along with a heat lamp and chick food from TSC as well. I keep moving the heat to make sure it's not to hot but the box is about 2x2 ft and they seem to have enough room.

I am sorry you are having problems------Your heat lamp and a 2ftx2ft box got my attention. Is it a red heat lamp--probably 250 watts. Have you put a thermometer of the floor under the light to see what the temp is? Are the chicks staying away from the light---trying to get behind something? If the temp is more than 90 directly under the light it is to hot. You can unscrew that bulb and use a regular incandescent bulb--maybe 40 or 60 watt and drop it down in the box on one end(to where the heat below it is right at 90)---feed and water on the other side. See if i can find you a pic.

Pic from another member here. Only a 40 watt bulb on one side-gives them room to get away from the heat if needed.

 

[flowerladyMA]

even when I dip the beak nothing. So I have resorted to a dropper and running it along its beak every 30 min. I put it back in the box with the others and they nearly killed it by sitting on it's head!!!! In my lap now sleeping and chirping but eyes never open. Once and maybe an hour it will perk up but for seconds. Poop is normal....on my sweatshirt


I will check to make sure the light is not too hot they run around and stay under or move away from the light often. Maybe I will try to change the bulb tomorrow.

Thank you all for the advice not sure this cutie is going to make it through the night. Can I keep her in separate box? How can I get heat with no other red light thingy?

 

[flowerladyMA]

I am sorry you are having problems------Your heat lamp and a 2ftx2ft box got my attention. Is it a red heat lamp--probably 250 watts. Have you put a thermometer of the floor under the light to see what the temp is? Are the chicks staying away from the light---trying to get behind something? If the temp is more than 90 directly under the light it is to hot. You can unscrew that bulb and use a regular incandescent bulb--maybe 40 or 60 watt and drop it down in the box on one end(to where the heat below it is right at 90)---feed and water on the other side. See if i can find you a pic. Pic from another member here. Only a 40 watt bulb on one side-gives them room to get away from the heat if needed.

Hmm maybe they are too hot. That bulb is warm. Tho I have it fairly high up. I'm not sure it is this little ones problem but it may cause others!!! Such a nervous mama

 

[PD-Riverman]

Hmm maybe they are too hot. That bulb is warm. Tho I have it fairly high up. I'm not sure it is this little ones problem but it may cause others!!! Such a nervous mama

Listen---you do not want the whole box hot---they need most of the box unheated so they can get away from the heat if needed. Heat is a Killer, BUT it can not be to cold either so do not take the heat away unless you are going to do another quick set-up. You got a thermometer to check the temp?

No it might not be this ones problem, but you got to start some where---check the heat!

 

[flowerladyMA]

Listen---you do not want the whole box hot---they need most of the box unheated so they can get away from the heat if needed. Heat is a Killer, BUT it can not be to cold either so do not take the heat away unless you are going to do another quick set-up. You got a thermometer to check the temp?

No it might not be this ones problem, but you got to start some where---check the heat!

no of course the thermometer is the one thing I didn't know o needed! They are in my studio which is heated. I am sure I have another bulb I can switch out if not I can move the light. First thing tomorrow.... Thermometer!!! Ugh!

 

[PD-Riverman]

no of course the thermometer is the one thing I didn't know o needed! They are in my studio which is heated. I am sure I have another bulb I can switch out if not I can move the light. First thing tomorrow.... Thermometer!!! Ugh!

I am sure your studio is probably around 70, chicks need a small area they can get to--to warm when they need it around 90----if their whole brooder is warm----they could be to hot. What are they doing? Are they real close to each other---snuggled up to warm or are they trying to get away from the heat/light?

 

[PD-Riverman]

no of course the thermometer is the one thing I didn't know o needed! They are in my studio which is heated. I am sure I have another bulb I can switch out if not I can move the light. First thing tomorrow.... Thermometer!!! Ugh!

Is their water cool---you for sure don't want your light heating up their water. Water and food needs to stay out the heated area.

 

[flowerladyMA]

The studio is kept at 60. With the snow we are having I don't think it got much warmer but other days yes. I just adjusted to lamp and warmer some more and will do more tomorrow. When they sleep they tend to huddle and when they run around they kind of move together. Unless I stick my hand in there and then they all go crazy. Wish they weren't so scared of me. The only one who isn't is the sickling. Who I have in a box in the house.

I have been giving the water/electrolyte mix and now it's just pooping the water prior it was popping normal pools. Not sure about this one.