- May 10, 2016
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Recently I hatched 19 silkie chicks from my birds. All them seem to be doing very well, except for one.
This chick, about 2 days ago (They are 4-6 days old, this chick is 4 days) began distress calling. It has not stopped that I can tell.
I have inspected the chick multiple times since noticing, looking for pasty butt, observing her and her flockmates, and nothing seems overtly wrong.
I have seen her drink, although it seemed to be a slow process when she did, almost as if she did not understand how to get the water.
I have not seen her eat yet. But I only noticed the problem yesterday, and since she is only 4 days old, I feel up until now she has been relying on her yolk.
She seems to be moving well, but mostly just tries to snuggle up with the other chicks. The only thing I've noticed is a very slight bend in her toe, that I think might just be a mild case of curly toe.
This chick is small, but not the runt.(The runt is surprisingly robust) She is probably the second smallest, and I don't think she is growing as fast as her flockmates, but it is hard to be sure.
I'm not sure what to do. She is usually trying to burrow under her littermates. I wondered if maybe she could be crying for a mother? They were never exposed to an adult chicken. The crying also does not stop if I hold her, unless I do so for a long time, and any disturbance/movement will cause her to begin crying again.
I'm worried she is beginning to lose her voice as well, or her stamina, as when I was down there just now, I noticed sometimes the distressed call would die down to an almost silent peeping (but not a happy peep).
I'm really worried I'm going to lose her. I'm at my wits end. I did syringe her a tiny amount of water (very small amounts at a time, drop by drop) and I also gave her 0.5ml of B12 by mouth.
I decided to put a broody hen I happen to have in there to see if that would help with things. She has seemed to accept them and at least half of them are snuggling up to her, including the distressed chick (but I think thats because the others were there). When the other chicks are still, she calms down to the concerning quiet peep.
I'm hoping if the chick is hungry and that is why she is crying, maybe the broody hen can teach her to eat?
Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? I am very scared to lose this chick.
This chick, about 2 days ago (They are 4-6 days old, this chick is 4 days) began distress calling. It has not stopped that I can tell.
I have inspected the chick multiple times since noticing, looking for pasty butt, observing her and her flockmates, and nothing seems overtly wrong.
I have seen her drink, although it seemed to be a slow process when she did, almost as if she did not understand how to get the water.
I have not seen her eat yet. But I only noticed the problem yesterday, and since she is only 4 days old, I feel up until now she has been relying on her yolk.
She seems to be moving well, but mostly just tries to snuggle up with the other chicks. The only thing I've noticed is a very slight bend in her toe, that I think might just be a mild case of curly toe.
This chick is small, but not the runt.(The runt is surprisingly robust) She is probably the second smallest, and I don't think she is growing as fast as her flockmates, but it is hard to be sure.
I'm not sure what to do. She is usually trying to burrow under her littermates. I wondered if maybe she could be crying for a mother? They were never exposed to an adult chicken. The crying also does not stop if I hold her, unless I do so for a long time, and any disturbance/movement will cause her to begin crying again.
I'm worried she is beginning to lose her voice as well, or her stamina, as when I was down there just now, I noticed sometimes the distressed call would die down to an almost silent peeping (but not a happy peep).
I'm really worried I'm going to lose her. I'm at my wits end. I did syringe her a tiny amount of water (very small amounts at a time, drop by drop) and I also gave her 0.5ml of B12 by mouth.
I decided to put a broody hen I happen to have in there to see if that would help with things. She has seemed to accept them and at least half of them are snuggling up to her, including the distressed chick (but I think thats because the others were there). When the other chicks are still, she calms down to the concerning quiet peep.
I'm hoping if the chick is hungry and that is why she is crying, maybe the broody hen can teach her to eat?
Does anyone have any tips or suggestions? I am very scared to lose this chick.