New Peeps....are they in trouble?

[clevebrowns]

I have just picked up 3 little peeps. They had to travel an hour and a half in order to get to their new home. I've been checking on them and they (one in particular) aren't moving or chirping much. Is this normal? They are residing in a draft free brooder with a heat light within our temperature controlled garage. I've lost peeps in the past and do not wish to lose any more. I'd love a little reassurance. Thanks.

 

[Sandyd]

Did you dip their beaks in water w/electrolytes when you brought them home to ensure they were hydrated? Very important. Keep dipping their beaks in every 15 minutes till you are sure they are intaking liquid on their own. No it is not normal for them to be lying and not moving much.

 

[Stewarts]

Make a chick starter mash with plain yogurt and dip their beaks so they eat. Its helpful if they know what their food looks like, I usually drop starter on the floor of their brooder so when they scratch, they learn to recognize their food. Mix equal amounts to molasses and apple cider vinegar and mix 1 teaspoon to 1 gallon of water for them. The yogurt gives them bacteria they would ordinarily get from ingesting their mother poo and the molasses/vinegar helps prevent and minimize pasty butt while giving them nutrients without having to buy medicated stuff.

I hatched 23 chicks successfully doing this and just bought 25 meat chicks, all are doing phenomenally well. Considering that when I bought the chicks I was told I'd lose some. I have not lost one and none has been sick. I did have one chick hatch prematurely; he had not finished absorbing his yolk and I had to leave him inside his cracked egg for a day until he fully absorbed it. After that he acted like a bought chick - lethargic, not eating, laying down and not moving. I started him on the mash/yogurt and water, dipping his beak until he ate and drank. After that, he was fine. I have had little enough pasty butt to deal with too. On occasion, when I do I just clear the vent and keep an eye on the chick - it clears up in a few days.

Good luck.

Stephanie

 

[clevebrowns]

Thank you so much for the advice. I, of course, dipped the beaks once we arrived home. I was not aware of the process to dip every 15 minutes. Once I read your post, began the periodic dipping, which seems to have done the trick. The peep is active, like it's other friends. I'll keep a close eye on it today, also. Thanks again.

 

[clevebrowns]

Thank you for your advice. I'll give them a little yogurt today. The peep has recovered nicely once I routinely dipped his beak in the electrolite water.