Sick Chick! Help!

[Elizabeth1987]

Hi,
I am brand new to chickens. I just got my chicks in the mail today. I ordered 6 and 2 had died already. So now I have four, but one (named Gilly) is not doing so well. She is just sleeping and not as active as the other chicks. I read to give it sugar water and egg but how do I feed it? It doesn't seem to want to eat or drink anything! Please help - I don't want little Gilly to die!

 

[Kiki]

You can try dipping a q tip in the water and touching it to the beak...see if that will help to get some fluids in her.
Or hold a spoon to its beak with the water, see if will sip from the spoon.

 

[Elizabeth1987]

Thank you! I tried the spoon and that seemed to work. I will let you know how she does. Thanks again!

 

[chickens really]

What you do is dip all chicks beaks into the water font that contains a sugar water mix...You only use it for the first drink..Then you provide clear cool water...Its a but stressed and possibly got cold?...Keep an eye out fir pasty butt and then just put a little Vaseline on the Chicks butt if it gets plugged... Warm water will unplug the butt hole...

 

[Kiki]

I would pick up some poultry electrolytes and Nutri Drench for it asap too.
Keep offering the spoon.

 

[EricaCAL]

Hi there! So last week i had my first shipment ever of baby chicks. Same thing, I ordered 6 and 2 had died in the box. I was SO devastated that they were dead! Seeing that is just heartbreaking. So we buried them in our backyard and i went to a local feed store and bought 2 more. Of the 2 from the feed store, one died...so we got another replacement and now all 6 are thriving!!!! Do you mind if i ask what breeds in your batch died? My 2 from MPC were a Buff Silkie and a Black Copper Marans. I read that Silkies are extremely fragile so that was less of a shock but the Marans is a mystery.

I make sure every 30 minutes that I see them all take a drink. If I dont I gently remind them of where the nipple waterer is and push it with my fingernail to make the little metal noise. They all come running to see what I am doing and drink! I am so happy we got the nipple feeder cause their water is never contaminated. i also have added Sav-A-Chick electrolytes and probiotics to the water. I hope this helps and good luck!!!!

 

[Elizabeth1987]

Do you mind if i ask what breeds in your batch died?

Both of the ones that were dead were Welsumers, and my little sick girl died this morning -- she was a Barred Plymouth Rock. Where did you get your nipple waterer? I don't have one, but it sounds like I need to get one.

 

[Kiki]

Did you get the vitamins or electrolytes yet?
They can be life savers.

 

[EricaCAL]

Both of the ones that were dead were Welsumers, and my little sick girl died this morning -- she was a Barred Plymouth Rock. Where did you get your nipple waterer? I don't have one, but it sounds like I need to get one.

Oh I am sooooo sorry for your losses. I feel awful for you. They are all just so fragile...I never really realized that until I watched my little Blue Laced Wyandotte die before my eyes.

So the nipple waterer i got was from Amazon. Here is the link: https://www.amazon.com/Premier-Chic...qid=1498761921&sr=8-5&keywords=nipple+waterer

It is sized for baby chicks and I cannot believe how fast they took to drinking from it! I had this and the standard water bowl in their brooder and the water bowl got water everywhere and they kicked bedding into it! Such a mess! But now that i removed the water bowl, no more wet bedding and very happe chicks!! I also bought the bracket that goes with it (sold separately) and we strapped it up into the brooder. Here is a pic: I really hope this helps you! Take care!!!