New Chicks Today - Problems???

[Dornes]

I got a new shipment of chicks today and all seemed to be fine when I took them out of the box and put them in the brooder. Except now... I am seeing some issues. I have a couple questions:

I have two silver spangled hamburg that are acting quite strange. They aren't getting around really well and would rather just lay there and when they do try to get up and move, they kind of flap and scoot. There isn't really any walking that I have seen them do at all. I am wondering if they had gotten some leg injuries in shipping?

I also have one (out of two) Buff Laced Polish that is driving me BONKERS. It keeps peeping really loud and walking around like it is lost. Like it doesn't know what it is doing or where it is at. It has eaten chick starter and water with Sav-a-chick in it. The others will be merrily sleeping (not all bunched up but sleeping nicely lined up) and this one walks around peeping so loudly. I have yet to see it actually sit down and take a rest and they have been in the brooder since 7:30am - it is now almost noon here. Can it be just stressed or do you think there could possibly be something else going on??

My first order of chicks (Golden Buffs and RIR) last week was so easy, put them in the brooder and all was well, they zonked out, eat, drank and slept some more... I guess I picked some breeds this time that are more fragile?

Any help or suggestions would be great.

 

[EmtheFishLady]

What is the temperature in the brooder? Have you seen everyone eat and drink yet?

 

[Dornes]

Temp in the brooder is 85. Yes, all have drank for sure, most have eaten. I hand watered the two that aren't doing so well with a little syringe and they lapped it right up. One is getting around better now that I hand watered it and I gave it a little pile of chick start in my lap and it ate that also. The other, even though it drank, I cannot get it to eat... I have it in a seperate area in the brooder and the temp in that area for that chick by itself is also 85. I have a small bit of chick start and some water in there with sav-a-chick in it for it.

I am off to run to the store now to get some more chicken supplies, for my week olds - sand and a small box for the sand to go in as well as a couple other things. If it is not up and moving around better when I get back in a couple hours I am going to be super concerened. More-so than I am now...


While they were in my lap they were both standing on their legs and walking around a tiny bit. Still super wobbly, so I know that nothing is wrong with their legs... I was afraid of leg problems. But now, I am not sure what is going on...

I am hoping the farm store has the chick gel - maybe I can get it to eat that!


Thanks for the help so far, I appreciate it - anyone else has any ideas that would be great too!