Serama chicks won't eat

[Cookiee]

Hi all, I am new to hatching Serama chickens but my chicks are going into day 3 now and have not touched a drop of food or water. They are chirping constantly when not under the electric hen and I am not sure what to do. I have had this with my quails but they always start eating after a couple of days. Does anyone have any ideas?

 

[BelovedBirds]

Hi all, I am new to hatching Serama chickens but my chicks are going into day 3 now and have not touched a drop of food or water. They are chirping constantly when not under the electric hen and I am not sure what to do. I have had this with my quails but they always start eating after a couple of days. Does anyone have any ideas?

What food do they have? Are the crumbles fine enough?
What waterer are you using?

What is the temperature of the brooder, and under the heat plate/what height is it set to?

 

[SmiYa0126]

Dip their beaks into water and tap and pick up the crumbles with your fingers and sprinkle them on the floor in front of them. I had a chick not eat for the first three days, but after that they need to eat. Add some nutri drench in their water. Keep trying to entice them to eat.

 

[Cookiee]

Sorry for the slow reply had to take my daughter to school. I have chick starter crumb blended up into small pieces almost dust the same as I do for my buttons. I have dipped their beaks in water but nothing as yet. The heat plate is as low as I can get it so they can get underneath. I don't have a thermometer in the brooder as I am using the plate. @SmiYa0126

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yeah, they don't have to eat or drink the first three days or so but usually they will at least some. How are they acting? Are they lethargic and just standing around, maybe fluffed up? Are they spending most of their time under the heat plate? What kind of waterer are you using, could you post a photo?

I know Seramas are tiny compared to most chicks. I don't know that you had to turn those crumbles into powder but I can see why you might need to reduce the size a bit.

I don't know what the problem is that they are not both eating or drinking at all. I've never had that problem with all of them. That just doesn't sound right so something is probably wrong. I did have one individual that would not drink after I dipped its beak and did not learn from watching the others, but when I dipped the beak a second time it did drink.

I'm trying to think of the type of things that might be wrong. What do the food and water containers look like, can they get to them? How much light do they have? Perhaps too cold.? I can't imagine any of these being your problem since you raise quail but I'll mention them. It's probably something basic but it sounds like you are doing everything right.

So what can you do? Maybe not grind their feed to a powder but leave some bits. That doesn't make sense because plenty of people use mash as feed. Maybe wet that powdered feed into a paste, mash is often fed that way. Try dipping the beaks again if you haven't.

Give each one a high energy drink. You can often get an electrolyte mix at the feed store but sugar water works too. I use hummingbird liquid since I always have some on hand. Put a drop of liquid on the tip of their beak, I use a medicine dropper. They should swallow it so do it again several times. Do not force it down their throats, you don't want it to go into the lungs. The idea is to hydrate them and give them instant energy so they are more likely to want to eat and drink. I've used this on weak individual chicks and even grown hens, sometimes it helps, sometimes not. But I can't think of anything else.

 

[Cookiee]

They are active coming in and out from under the heat plate plate chirping and generally doing chicken things. I just have a milk bottle lid with some pebbles in to reduce risk of drowning. I added some none crunched crumb in now also. They seem to be growing as their wings are growing in. Perhaps they are just eating during the times I am not looking at them there are droppings. I will give it until tomorrow and see if I see any change. Thanks for the help.

 

[Cookiee]

Oh since i put the not so finely ground food in they rushed out and started eating. Well that is a lesson learned thanks @Ridgerunner and everyone else what a lovely friendly and helpful community.

 

[Mary Poopins Love]

Do their chirps sound loud and sharp, like they are unhappy? Or do they cheep like happy little chicks?

 

[Cookiee]

Do their chirps sound loud and sharp, like they are unhappy? Or do they cheep like happy little chicks?

They just sounded happy but I was stressed with them not eating. Seems like the problem was solved me not feeding them chick crumb I had ground down to dust, they seem to like it left course. They are both eating like horses now so I am happy. I will post some progress pictures in the next few days.

 

[Cookiee]

Update: Happy chicks now. Eating drinking and sleeping well Thanks all.