New Bantams

[Beah10]

Well I picked up 5 little bantams this afternoon at Tractor Supply, and my excitement was short lived. I'm not sure if all TSC stores are set up this way, but you can only point at the chicks you want and an associate will add them to the box. I didn't think too much about it until I got home with the chicks and realized 2 had pasty butt and 2 arent breathing quite normal. I didn't think about asking to look at their bottoms or checking them over before going in the box. These chicks just arrived to the store this morning as well, so they must have had a hard ship. I cleaned them up the best I could, added some nutridrench to their water and am hoping for the best. I was only able to get one blurry group photo, but I will add more individual ones once everyone perks up. For what it's worth, I'm using a My Chicken Chick Brooder Plate, it's only getting up to 80 degrees, so I'm planning on going back to TSC to get a heating lamp first thing in the morning.

1-white Silkie, this one had severe pasty butt, is breathing weird and has a lower odd sounding chirp than the others. I don't know if this guy will make it overnight.
2-red or maybe dark buff Silkie
3-partridge colored mystery with feathered legs, I'm thinking Duccle or Cochin. This guy is also breathing weird.
4-cream colored mystery with clean legs, smallest one, I'm thinking OEGB.
5-red or buff colored mystery with clean legs, almost the same size as #4, I'm thinking another OEGB or sebright. This guy also had a mild case of pasty butt.

Additional ideas on getting these guys on the mend are welcome!

 

[ChickenEnthusiast]

Hey there! Ah yes, tractor supply always has these issues. With the pasty butt, get a Qtip and soak it in water then gently get rid of that nasty stuff. Also, put some garlic in there water as well, extra stamina boost with so many health benefits.

 

[Chicks in VA]

well, that's sad i just ordered chicks from ideal hatchery hope mine are better than that good luck to you with your chicks

 

[Beah10]

Hey there! Ah yes, tractor supply always has these issues. With the pasty butt, get a Qtip and soak it in water then gently get rid of that nasty stuff. Also, put some garlic in there water as well, extra stamina boost with so many health benefits.

Thank you! I used a cotton ball and got as much off as I could. How much garlic should I add? Should it be plain garlic water or Nutridrench and garlic or ACV/sugar water with garlic?

 

[Iluveggers]

Thank you! I used a cotton ball and got as much off as I could. How much garlic should I add? Should it be plain garlic water or Nutridrench and garlic or ACV/sugar water with garlic?

I like nutridrench and feeding scrambled egg to weaker chicks.

If you still are having trouble getting dried poo off, try some pure coconut oil on the q-tip, and then a washcloth or paper towel soaked in warm water. The oil should help it slide off their feathers easier. If their butt is super wet after, you might need a hairdryer on low or hold them in a dry towel for a little while to dry them off.

 

[Beah10]

I like nutridrench and feeding scrambled egg to weaker chicks.

If you still are having trouble getting dried poo off, try some pure coconut oil on the q-tip, and then a washcloth or paper towel soaked in warm water. The oil should help it slide off their feathers easier. If their butt is super wet after, you might need a hairdryer on low or hold them in a dry towel for a little while to dry them off.

Thank you. I will try the coconut oil in the morning. If I give scrambled egg, do I need to add grit on top?

 

[Iluveggers]

Thank you. I will try the coconut oil in the morning. If I give scrambled egg, do I need to add grit on top?

Egg is soft enough it should be ok without grit.

 

[Chicks in VA]

how are they doing

 

[Beah10]

how are they doing

4 of them had some messy butts I had to clean this morning. The white Silkie is doing much better, still has a weird chirp, almost sounds like a whistle. The tiny cream one, I haven't had any issues with and he's lively and already picking on the others. The tiny red one doesn't look very good, isn't opening his eyes and is very weak. I slowly dropped some nutridrench and water by his beak and hopefully that will help. The other Silkie and the Cochin seem to be doing fine as well.

 

[Beah10]

Sad update

The tiny red chick passed on. The buff silkie is now having issues, looks a lot like wry neck. He was fine this morning and last night and now can't balance and holding his head down at an angle. Can chicks develop wry neck that quickly? Maybe he was pecked by the bully OEGB chick? I read that could be a cause for silkie wry neck, but I'm not sure if that's true?