We picked up our new chicks at 6:50 AM this morning, and were amazed at how lively the little things are after spending the weekend at the local post office. I'll post photos of them later (they are SO cute!!
) but right now I'm posting because of something wrong with one of our new Buff Silkies.
First off, this was the only chick with pasty butt, but that was easily addressed. The chick was also tottering drunkenly everywhere, so we hobbled her for splayed leg. These are minor issues. My concern is that the thing is positively starved for water. It keeps hobbling over to the waterer, hangs its head over the ledge, then tries to drink (we raised the water level with pebbles so it wouldn't drown). Sometimes it manages to toss its head back to drink, sometimes it doesn't. I've had to help it drink twice so far this morning. Then instead of moving off, it settles down and tries to sleep with its head on the rim of the waterer. I moved it over to the feeder, and it fell asleep with its head leaning against the feeder.
So it's very weak. But worse... it throws up within minutes of drinking. And what it vomits is this clear, drippy goo that oozes out of its mouth. It doesn't rush out or pour out, like regular liquid. This is very viscous and it just hangs and drips, almost like a clear syrup. We are stumped. We isolated it in our hospital brooder, and it's sleeping now, but we just don't know how to treat the vomiting. I'm afraid that it's unable to hydrate and, in its weakened condition, it might not survive the day. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!
First off, this was the only chick with pasty butt, but that was easily addressed. The chick was also tottering drunkenly everywhere, so we hobbled her for splayed leg. These are minor issues. My concern is that the thing is positively starved for water. It keeps hobbling over to the waterer, hangs its head over the ledge, then tries to drink (we raised the water level with pebbles so it wouldn't drown). Sometimes it manages to toss its head back to drink, sometimes it doesn't. I've had to help it drink twice so far this morning. Then instead of moving off, it settles down and tries to sleep with its head on the rim of the waterer. I moved it over to the feeder, and it fell asleep with its head leaning against the feeder.
So it's very weak. But worse... it throws up within minutes of drinking. And what it vomits is this clear, drippy goo that oozes out of its mouth. It doesn't rush out or pour out, like regular liquid. This is very viscous and it just hangs and drips, almost like a clear syrup. We are stumped. We isolated it in our hospital brooder, and it's sleeping now, but we just don't know how to treat the vomiting. I'm afraid that it's unable to hydrate and, in its weakened condition, it might not survive the day. Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated!