Runt of the litter having trouble

[Ksherlock]

We received a very small chicken yesterday and she seems to be having trouble. She seems to drink a bit but doesn't want to eat much. She is very wobbly on her feet and she falls over and doesn't get up. We actually thought she had died at one point. Any suggestions on how to care for her? How to get some food in her? We tried putting her in a shoe box by herself but she cheeped for siblings constantly. She was better this am but now seems to be having trouble again. Any suggestions would be most welcome. She is a Quail Antwerp Bantam.

 

[chicmom]

Can you put some vitamins/electrolites or a packet of Save-A-Chick in her drinking water? Also, boil an egg, and chop up the yolk real fine and let her eat that. IT will give her a protein boost.

Good luck with her and I hope she pulls through for you,
Sharon

 

[Ksherlock]

We did receive the vitamins with the chicks and did put it in the water for all. I read about the yolk idea elsewhere also so I will give that a try. My mother wants to get Tetracycline for her. Thanks for the suggestion!

 

[Ksherlock]

She also has a wet matted bottom. I washed her off a bit but it's there again this am. Could she be stopped up? She does seem to clean herself a bit.

 

[hunter109]

well if she is stopped up you can do something but i ant had a prob with that i see many dont eat much beacuse they are small and some are just sick i have had one die but it was sick and was like that

 

[Eggcessive]

Just keep dunking her little beak in the vitamin water often to get her to drink. Once they have a little pasty butt they may get it again for up to 10 days--no big deal just keep washing it off. Dip its beak in the food and as Chicmom said try a scrambled egg--the others can share. She may start perking up in day or so. The banties have a tougher time I think. Sometimes they won't make it, but you will know you tried. Good luck.

 

[Ksherlock]

Thanks, I will do that.

 

[Ksherlock]

Our littlest baby died last night. I held her as she took her last breath. So sad for me and my 12 year old son. Thank the Lord the other 26 chicks are doing really well. I don't think we can go through that again.

 

[hunter109]

you can expect atleast one death when you are farming i got use to it with all our animals we lost but it ant the same and lost money when they die