Silkie thread!

[Iluvmysilkies]

I think it is also too hot and they are getting dehydrated. Raise your light and see how they do.

Medicated feed blocks thiamine, not niacin. It is typically selenium and vitamin E deficiency that causes wryneck in chicks. Niacin deficiency in ducks and geese can cause leg problems. Wow that person you talked to really knows how to take a bunch of information, mix it in a jar and pour out whatever happens to be floating at the top!
Have you tried the fermented feed?
Even moistened feed Wil help them hydrate.

Ooh ok, so I should keep their medicated chick starter feed then?? Im so confused lol. I only have them on the medicated chick starter right now. I can try wetting it down if you think it will help.

Should their box/bedding feel warm at all to the touch or does that mean its too hot?? Because I tried raising the lamp higher and I couldnt really feel warm bedding anymore so I wasent sure if it was warm enough for them. The back room they are staying in is always good room temp also.

 

[subhanalah]

I think wetting the food will help hydrate them, which is what I think they need. 3 feet isn't very much room for heat dissipation, I would definitely raise your lamp. Dehydration is very dangerous for small chicks.

 

[subhanalah]

Would you be interested in fermenting their feed? It's what I do, and I feel the benefits outweigh the work put into it (which isn't much at all).
But I also don't want to overwhelm you!

I would feed them some mashed up hard boiled eggs. It will be easier for them to eat and won't sap so much moisture from their bodies Luke the dry food does.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I saw them using the 250 watt bulb at the feed store, the babies were suffering heat trauma and dehydration.
I bought my light at Lowe's. It's a white box that has the red letters "passion" on it. When you open it, the bulb says "flood" on it. It is a 90 watt bulb and would probably work the same distance you have your current light.

Oh no! That is soo sad. I had no idea how little those stores knew about proper brooder conditions. I just followed them thinking they knew more then me Oh man I feel so bad. So I probably dont need to feel any warmth inside the brooder at all then really? I did see a white bulb there to and it much much lower. I think it was a 70-90watt. I could get that one instead. I just didnt see any other darker red lights besides this one and I thought it was also suppose to be easier on them so it wasent too bright and they could sleep easier. I wish i'd known it was too hot this whole time. I kept raising it, thinking it had to be too warm Is it suppose to feel warm on their bedding or is that too warm?

 

[maria1977]

is it possible to get sent to Denmark

 

[Fancychooklady]

I think it is also too hot and they are getting dehydrated. Raise your light and see how they do.

Medicated feed blocks thiamine, not niacin. It is typically selenium and vitamin E deficiency that causes wryneck in chicks. Niacin deficiency in ducks and geese can cause leg problems. Wow that person you talked to really knows how to take a bunch of information, mix it in a jar and pour out whatever happens to be floating at the top!
Have you tried the fermented feed?
Even moistened feed Wil help them hydrate.

Medicated feed is a thiamine inhibitor and it is widely believed that thiamine ( B1 ) is along with selenium (vit E) the main contributor to wry neck. Most people recommend polyvisol as a blanket fix. It is also easier to administer .

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Would you be interested in fermenting their feed? It's what I do, and I feel the benefits outweigh the work put into it (which isn't much at all).
But I also don't want to overwhelm you!

I would feed them some mashed up hard boiled eggs. It will be easier for them to eat and won't sap so much moisture from their bodies Luke the dry food does.

I definitely dont mind moistening their dry food everyday if you think that would help. It would probably be easier to do that right now since I have a baby constantly demanding me, and im carrying another but i'll definitely do what I can for these lil guys. I will get a lower watt bulb, moisten their food and see if that helps. Should I keep up with the poly vitamins to their beaks everyday to?

 

[subhanalah]

Without a thermometer, it's best to watch the chicks.keep raising it until you see them huddling. Raise it, wait 15 minutes. If no change, repeat. Eventually they will get cold and start to huddle together, once they do that, lower it a little bit and see what they do.

Everyone makes mistakes, it is your intention that matters. You thought you were doing the right thing and tried to Fix it the best way you knew how. Now that you think you have found the problem, address it and that's the best you can do!
We're all right here with you. Do you happen to have any unflavored pedialyte? You can cut it about half/half with water and give each chuck a drop every 30 minutes. I would hold off on the vitamins until you get some good fluids in them.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

Medicated feed is a thiamine inhibitor and it is widely believed that thiamine ( B1 ) is along with selenium (vit E) the main contributor to wry neck. Most people recommend polyvisol as a blanket fix. It is also easier to administer .

Break it down for me lol So should I keep silkie chicks on medicated feed then or should I switch to non-medicated? Is it better to give them plyvisol everyday to make sure they get their vitamins or would that be dangerous? Should that only be used on wry neck or lethargic chicks?

 

[subhanalah]

Oh, and don't worry about your daughter handling them. I took my 8 hatchling out and carried them around in my sweater and sat down, when I stood up, I saw that three had fell down to the floor. Baby chick's are pretty tough they sometimes have to fall out of a nest to go foraging with mom as little as 12 hours after hatch. No worries there! They are still really bendy at that point in their lives.

I also half-stepped on a two week old easter eager check when she got under foot while I was stepping over a cushion. She's just fine and we snuggle and nap on the couch together almost every evening