- Thread starter
- #11
PrincessKiara
Songster
Thank you so much. She was 3 days oldSorry for your loss.
Your chick likely wasn't sick.. it had failure to thrive. Chicks can survive 3 full days with NO food or water after hatching... for the yolk they absorb directly during hatch. Waiting to see a regular poop is one of those signs that help me know they may be in the clear... we cannot see internal organs and digestion so until their own digestion system is up and running PAST the yolk.. it can be unsure.
After losing enough bantams.. I learned about crushing feed more (even crumbles) and it seriously increased my survival rate.. I even do it for standard fowl new hatchlings now.
I bred Silkies for several years... and some have an issue connecting with food... those don't usually die before 3-5 days old. Dying really sooner than that is indicative of either internal issues we can't detect OR being aspirated by accidentally inhaling water when learning to drink.
No, it's pretty much never appropriate to medicate a couple day old chick with anti biotics... OR to try throwing fixes at an unidentified issue possibly masking the real issue or causing more issue.
Best thing to help a failing chick... direct drop of poultry Nutri Drench just below the nostrils.. with chick held in hand beak facing forefinger to help direct the drop. Chick will naturally gobble and swallow when the moisture rolls around into the mouth and this helps IMMENSELY to prevent aspiration caused by beak dipping accidents.
Sounds like you might be having a staggered hatch right now.. dialing it in and finding ways to prevent that and have them hatch on the same day will give you less overall issues.. IF possible for your future adventures.
After hatching hundreds of chicks.. I can tell you not all will make it even if they hatched on their own. That doesn't mean they were "sick" as we understand it. Potential keys are genetics and parental age, health, and nutrition.. plus not to be dismissed is incubation parameters.. if they hatched on the right day or not.. may be an indicator of possible cause. So many factors!
Happy hatching!
Hatched by her aunt. I will be smooshing the crumbles.
