She won't stop peeping!

[Ivywoods]

Besides the hunger and lonliness, sometimes they peep more when they are a little too cold. It's kind of like they are calling their warm momma.

Be sure she is warm enough.

 

[secuono]

There's a 75watt lamp 4-5in from the ground in one corner. She's usually off a little ways from it. I always put her right under it after picking her up for whatever reason and she will walk off to the side.

 

[thechickonthehill]

I have had this happen several times before. The best luck I have had in feeding them is to just use a regular teaspoon, mix up some VERY runny mash with chick starter, warm water and a drop of nutri-drench vitamins or a teeny pinch of the sav-a-chick electrolytes. I just hold the chick in one had and the spoon in the other and dip the beak, tipping the spoon a bit to make the mash run towards the chick's beak. This is very messy and quite tedious, but about 50% of the time is successful in getting them to start eating. I usually do this every 3 or 4 hours during the day - sometimes only getting a few drops in them at a time. Generally, if they are going to start eating, they will do so by day 3. Its like a light bulb comes on for them and they start to peck at the food in the spoon once or twice. Once they try to peck at things, they usually will start eating, if only a bite or two at first. If they don't start by day 3, I have had no luck in getting them to figure it out. It is like some are born without the instinct to peck or eat. They just keep screaming no matter what you do. Those I have had to cull, usually on day 4 or 5 as they will begin to starve to death anyway if they haven't eaten by that time. Once one surprised me and on the morning of day 4, I made one last attempt to get him to eat and all of a sudden, he just started pecking at the mash. He just took 3 or 4 bites on his own at that feeding, but gradually improved and was able to eat on his own after another 3 days. I have had 2 others that started eating after a day or so and 2 that never did try to eat on their own. As I said earlier, I think some are just born without the instinct necessary to survive for some reason.

 

[secuono]

Quote:
I'm sure that's where a momma hen would come in real handy..
I'll keep hand feeding for a few more days and see what happens..

 

[new chick 203]

you would be better to get a red bulb on her. warmer and less disruptive to sleep. You need a thermometer in there too so you can make sure it's warm enough. I can't believe a 75 w can make it 90°. She may be stepping out of the light not because it's too hot, but because it's too bright.

 

[secuono]

Quote:
It is a red bulb, a red, 75watt reptile heat bulb.

 

[secuono]

She was peeping at me again so I went over and fed her some. Then she started pecking at it all on her own! But then she lost interest again. Either way, seems like she will soon actually get it!!

 

[klmclain1]

Oh good! She's such a cutey!!

 

[thechickonthehill]

Quote:

Good! I'll keep my fingers crossed for you. I am always so sad when I can't get them to start eating. Sounds like you are making progress though.

 

[secuono]

She was peeping like a madman all night!
This morning I put one wee beakfull in and then she ate a few beakfulls all on her own!!
We're getting somewhere!