New chicks are not doing well

[HappyHStead]

Hi, everyone! I'm new here and am attempting to be a first time chicken owner as well. About 5 days ago we picked ip our first 4 chicks, 2 rhode island reds and 2 light brahmas. One of the reds looked bad right out of the box, perked up in the afternoon, and then dued later that night. A friend had too many chicks of about the same age so she gave me 2 buff orpingtons. I just got them home about an hour ago. They were happy and active when I picked them up, but now one in particular looks bad right out of the box, just like the rhode island red. I put the 2 new chicks in a separate brooder heated to around 90 degrees on the warm end. They have water and starter feed available, floor is large wood shavings. I gave her some sugar water to try and pep her up a bit.

What is happening here that makes seemingly healthy chicks go immediately downhill?! My friend had extras because she hasn't lost a one out of about 40 chicks, but in our house where everything is set up by the book some are really struggling. Is it travel stress and they will just recover? The internet has not been very helpful since I seem to be following all the rules.

 

[Brenda48]

sorry to hear that your new chicks are dying..I have hatched a couple hundred this last couple of years..some eggs I bought, some are from my own flock..and some babies die for no good reason. I typically use brooder heat of 85-80* after they get out of the incubator and are dried..but your water and chick starter are all I offer too..is your water maybe city water and chlorinated or too far from natural to be causing this? I also use Chick electrolytes I buy at a feed store if they get sickly..but otherwise I cannot see why your chicks would die. Clean quarters are important in the beginning especially..I use blue pads and paper towels under the chicks for a week so I can watch their poop and just clean up often, sometimes twice or more a day...depending on head count. Hope someone can offer suggestions..I know it is very hard.

 

[HappyHStead]

Thanks, Brenda48. The RIR came in the mail, so I just chalked that up to fate. The orpington was running around with the others in her first home, endured a 12 minute car ride with me, and looked just like the RIR when I put her in the brooder box. ??? Wobbly on the legs and face planting. This then started to look like she was gasping for air. Both appear to be sleeping now, but I'm worried about her and confused. She's consumed a very tiny amount of sugar water, but she needs prompting and really just seems to drink accidentally so as not to drown

We have well water and the bedding in this box was fresh. They are in a solarium, air temp currently about 86, so I turned the light off and cracked a window a whole ago so as not to get too hot with the sun today. Neither has shown interest in the food or water, at least I haven't witnessed it. There is only one store in town that might have anything, so I will check this afternoon for electrolytes.

 

[3riverschick]

Pull them off the well water and put them on bottled water. Just plain Spring water. Go to your local store and look for a formula of Bovidr Labs Nutri-Dench or Nutri-Drops emergency nutritional supplements. They do not need to be digested. Poultry Nutri-Drench; Pet Nutri-Drops; Goat Nutri-Drench. Give each chick one drop only by mouth every 8 to 10 hours as needed. put 2 cc's per gallon in their water for the 1st 2 weeks of life to get them off to a strong start. Electrolytes not needed with the Bovidr Labs products. In a conversation with the science techs at Bovidr Labs they told me that tho the different formulas are made for different species, they all also meet the scientific standards for a universal dosage. So in a pinch, you can use a different formula for your birds. See here for fuller explanation:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/746509/how-to-deal-with-travel-stress-in-baby-chicks
Stress is stress and right now it has interrupted your chicks ability to uptake the helps you are giving it. These supplements bypass that digestive problems and mainline the helps directly to the bloodstream.
Hurry. Time is important. The idea here is to get nutrition to the chick before it reaches a tipping point where the body systems collapse from an imbalance of need for nutrition which is unavailable.
Best Success,
Karen in western PA. USA

 

[HappyHStead]

Sorry for the huge delay here - I couldn't log in with my other browser anymore apparently.
Thanks for all that information, Karen! Our local store is just a feed store in back of a gas station, so I was impressed they even had the electrolytes. They did, so that's what I gave them Wednesday. They pretty much slept all day Wed and everyone seemed happy and healthy Thu morning They are back on plain water, still well water, and all chicks are now together. Thankfully they all look great and all are eating and drinking freely

 

[3riverschick]

Glad to hear it!