Need help with new chick

[clhbubba]

I posted a few weeks ago for help sexing my chicks. Then I recently replied to a post by someone losing her peachicks that I also had lost one. This morning. My IB was dead(they were around 10-11wks). Two days ago, when my lovely pied died, I called the woman I had bought the first ones from to see if she happened to have anymore pieds around the same age. She said she had one that was 10 weeks and she thought it was a male....perfect, I thought. The peachick was the size of mine when they were 5/6 weeks old and was the scruffiest looking chick. 'Was she sure it was 10wks..yes', 'why is it in such rough looking condition...the others were beating it up'. Knowing that I absolutelly should not buy this chick.....I did anyway. It was too little to go in with my others so I decided to try it in with a couple of bantam chicks. The next morning I wake up to a bald and bleeding peachick!!! I was so upset. I put neosporin on it, thank goodness it was only the skin reddened and bleeding, they hadn't actually pecked below the skin more like a road rash type injury. So now it's by itself. Will it be alright by itself? I've seen it eat and drink. If I put bird vitamins in the water will it help or hurt? I put the other ones out when they were around 6wks as I didn't have room indoors for them. This little one I just got will stay in until it absolutely has to go outside. I'm in my 40's, have wanted peacocks my whole life, finally get them, and am having the worst luck. Suggestions? Helpful hints? Words of wisdom? Do not want to lose my 10wk white or my new ?wk old pied. (as to his size, I can cup him in my two hands but he does have feathers).

 

[chickenzoo]

I would give him some vitamins. It would help with any stress and vitamin def. he might have, which sounds like it might be a problem with him being so small. I would keep him by himself, encase he has any diseases that could be passed to your others. Keep him warm, as stressed and cold can be deadly. Sorry you are having trouble.Tips: I can only repeat myself: Keep Peachicks off ground until at least 3 months. This cuts out a lot of problems, as I have about 25+ peachicks I've hatched this season with very little losses. If they seem weak I add some Exact Baby Parrot Feeding Formula to their food. It is a powder that can be found at most pet stores.You can buy AvaCharge 200 vitamins from McMurry for like 18.00, it looks small but you only use a tsp per gallon- great vitamin. Best wishes.

 

[juliawitt]

I am sorry......I would also add that I have been told that peacocks should always be in pairs. Since you have one all by himself, you will probably need to spend alot of time with him. My peacocks are around 10 or 11 weeks old and they are the size of chickens with little blue feathers starting to show on their necks. They are completely bonded to each other. They will start to cry if they lose sight of each other. I am a peacock novice so I don't have any real advice except just keep trying. I have been feeding mine, pheasant baby crumbles and meal worms. Mine have been on the ground for 2 weeks so I quit giving them spinach greens. I am probably doing everything wrong but they are really growing and appear to be doing well. Hang in there, you can do it!! Love goes a long way.

 

[the Old Rebel]

I am a peachick novice as well. I am currently raising a single peachick in the house. It (I usually say "he" although I have no clue as to the sex yet) will be six weeks old tomorrow.

I kept him on a heating pad at night until he was 4 weeks old. But I turned it off during the day.

I mixed boiled egg yolk in with the game bird chick starter/grower. I started giving him peeled grapes cut in small pieces at about 3 weeks. Now I don't bother peeling them. That is a treat. I think if you give too many it can give them diarrhea. At any rate, he is doing GREAT!!

He does demand a lot of attention. He's sitting on my shoulder as I type this. When we are out of his sight he "lost calls" until we go crazy and go get him. I must confess he is spoiled rotten. He has quite a temper too. If you do something he doesn't like, he sqwauks at you something awful. Juliawitt is right. Love goes a LONG way.

I am soooooo sorry for your losses. But maybe this special peachick is just the right one for you. Give it all you've got. I know you won't be sorry no matter what happens.

Let us know if you have other questions.

Good luck!!

the Old Rebel

 

[clhbubba]

Thanks a bunch to you all. I have put vitamins in the water, wormed with panacur, and also had to dust the little guy for mites, he was crawling with them. I have offered dried meal worms as well(my bantam chicks really like them so I thought I would offer....if this is harmful, someone please tell me). I am boiling an egg as we speak to offer him some egg yolk. Am I going to have to put some in his mouth for him to get a taste or should he take to it pretty easily? I was giving mine finely chopped greens but was then told that wasn't good for them so quit.
I was actually wondering about putting some handfeeding powder in his kibble but didn't know if it would harm him in anyway. I've got some in my freezer(I bought it months ago to help a really small chick and it seemed to help). I think I'll try sprinkling a bit on his food.
I know he would probably do better with another one in there with him but I don't see any for sale around here except where I got this one and I'm not keen on buying from her again.