Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[Jensownzoo]

Thanks. Vitamin deficiency is the suggestion from the emergency thread also. I'll keep trying to get as much NutriDrench in her as possible. Trying to get them to go to bed now. Some were under the MHP but now everyone but her is piled up in a corner with her alone in the MHP. I'm trying to get them all back under the MHP. They are totally stressing me out.

Contrary little things, aren't they?

 

[TerryH]

Contrary little things, aren't they?

Yes. Suddenly the fun of having chickens is gone.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Yes. Suddenly the fun of having chickens is gone.

Crud, I'm sorry. The good news is that a vitamin deficiency is totally fixable. She just needs some supportive care (and Nutri-drench) while her body fixes itself. She didn't seem particularly sickly in the video...just stuck in reverse! You're taking good care of her. You've got this.

 

[beautifulpirate]

Came by to pay final dues to the broody brigade. The babies graduated from MHP and the brood box. They moved to their new home tonight.

And they got their first house guest...

I'm sure I'll be back in to chat and definitely will be back WHEN we get more chicks. We got too many roos this round so they'll head to freezer camp in a couple months and we'll get a couple more ladies to add in.

Thanks for all your great advice guys!!!

 

[Labrador Lady]

Great heating pad idea !! I have 3 baby chicks in my laundry room still too young to go out in the coop with my 5 other hens. I bought another coop for my baby chicks I grow up a little. There is what appears to be a very broody hen today. She refuses to leave her box all day today. Is this normal ? She isn't molting yet. I thought about letting her brood over my 3 new baby chicks in their new coop. Any thoughts on this ?

 

[TerryH]

Crud, I'm sorry. The good news is that a vitamin deficiency is totally fixable. She just needs some supportive care (and Nutri-drench) while her body fixes itself. She didn't seem particularly sickly in the video...just stuck in reverse! You're taking good care of her. You've got this.

Thanks for the encouraging words. I needed them. It's been a tough week. I've been working like crazy every spare moment on the coop. Problems at my work beyond my control but still eating at me. Hardly slept and now this. Once everyone got me pointed in the right direction I found several threads on the vitamin E deficiency. What an amazing resource BYC is. Not sure if I just continue with just the NutriDrench or add actual vitamin E and/or Selenium?? I'm determined to give this little baby everything she needs to survive this.

 

[Jensownzoo]

Thanks for the encouraging words. I needed them. It's been a tough week. I've been working like crazy every spare moment on the coop. Problems at my work beyond my control but still eating at me. Hardly slept and now this. Once everyone got me pointed in the right direction I found several threads on the vitamin E deficiency. What an amazing resource BYC is. Not sure if I just continue with just the NutriDrench or add actual vitamin E and/or Selenium?? I'm determined to give this little baby everything she needs to survive this. 

It's got Vit E and selenium (in the form of sodium selenite) in it, so I wouldn't change things.

I've gotten underneath the problem dogpile before, so I understand completely. My coop still isn't finished and my first babies are 13 weeks old now (I fixed them up a temporary coop using a 10x10 dog kennel)! It does help me tremendously to just take time once in a while and just sit with my chicks and enjoy them for a bit until I have to go put out the next fire...

 

[Blooie]

Aart that is what I was thinking...the stiffer wire would be a better structure. And if I'm going to wrap the whole thing in a pillow case, there shouldn't be any way of them getting stuck in it...right?

Go with the stiffer wire, flip it upside down, put the heating pad on the underside, put the whole thing in a pillowcase, then bungee it all together. You can also tape the pillow case opening closed if you want. When you flip back rightside up, you have a MHP cave that they can't get caught in.

Her crop was full this morning?
It should be empty in the morning, so maybe her digestive system is backed up.

So she can control her head?
Cause it didn't look like it in the video.
Still looks neurological to me, they can have some weird involuntary movements.

I'd post the video and details in the emergencies forum.

I agree with aart about the neuro signs. Weird vitamin deficiency is still high on my list. If she were flipping her head up, I'd say it was a thiamine deficiency. Lickily, the Nutri-drench is a lovely vitamin supplement, so if it is that then you're already treating it.

I am thinking that aart and Jensownzoo are right...it sure looks neurological to me, as well. Keep us posted, would you please? I've never seen anything like that.

Came by to pay final dues to the broody brigade. The babies graduated from MHP and the brood box. They moved to their new home tonight.



And they got their first house guest...



I'm sure I'll be back in to chat and definitely will be back WHEN we get more chicks. We got too many roos this round so they'll head to freezer camp in a couple months and we'll get a couple more ladies to add in.

Thanks for all your great advice guys!!!

You are so very welcome! Don't be a stranger!!! And congrats! Job well done!

Great heating pad idea !! I have 3 baby chicks in my laundry room still too young to go out in the coop with my 5 other hens. I bought another coop for my baby chicks I grow up a little. There is what appears to be a very broody hen today. She refuses to leave her box all day today. Is this normal ? She isn't molting yet. I thought about letting her brood over my 3 new baby chicks in their new coop. Any thoughts on this ?

Depends on how long she sticks.....put some fake eggs under her and see how she does. She probably won't take those new chicks if you just try to stick them under her before she's really sticking to the nest and setting well, and that can take a little time. If she doesn't want those chicks just yet, you probably won't have them the day after you give them to her. But I'll let someone with more experience with broodies field that question for a more definitive answer. There are always exceptions...

Thanks for the encouraging words. I needed them. It's been a tough week. I've been working like crazy every spare moment on the coop. Problems at my work beyond my control but still eating at me. Hardly slept and now this. Once everyone got me pointed in the right direction I found several threads on the vitamin E deficiency. What an amazing resource BYC is. Not sure if I just continue with just the NutriDrench or add actual vitamin E and/or Selenium?? I'm determined to give this little baby everything she needs to survive this.

That's exactly how I felt when we found the Little Stinker cold and unresponsive. I had to try!! Good luck!

 

[AllynTal]

... Try giving her some vitamin E.

I'm glad the emergency thread helped you.

Keep us posted.

 

[aart]

Quote: Wonders if it's maybe too warm under there for the rest of them?
Hang in there!