The chirping is going to drive me to violence....

Ok, so firstly, this isn't our first trip around the incubator. We've been hatching our own chickens out for a year and a half. Hundreds of chicks. Inevitably, there is always a chick that for a couple days, likes to make more noise than the others. So, our first hatch this year was a bit over a week ago. The eggs from our flock hatched on time and are healthy. But I got some eggs from a friend, Marans, and they all hatched late...including two that we had to help out of the egg on day 25 (2 others of the same lineage died in the shell). It's one of those that is making me take prescription anxiety pills so I don't lose it.

It was very weak by the time we decided to try and save it. It stayed in the Brinsea for nearly a day to dry out and gain it's strength. It was quiet and slept most of the first couple days. Since then...OMG the horror.

This thing spends all it's waking hours chirping. That horrible loud chirping that penetrates the walls of a sound proof room. You know the kind I'm referring to. But that isn't it's only anti-endearing quality, and these make me wonder if I'm 5 days late trying to put it out of it's (and my) misery. Firstly, it's the run by far. Half the size of the other one that had pipped but needed help out. Also, this chick walks backwards at least as much as it walks forward. It also tends to get pretty bad pasty butt, which needs cleaned daily (stressed out obviously). But the worse thing is that the few times I've seen it sleep, it's very short lived and when it awakes, it shakes its head violently and throws itself half a foot across the brooder.

I've seen it drink regularly, and it does appear to have some food in it's crop, though after a week, I've only seen it eat a couple times. Apparently though, since it's not pooping out bright green and has a crop, it must be eating.

So...help please. For the love of all that is holy to the chicken owning world...please...if you have any personal experience for this type of thing, even if your best advice is to cull it because it likely has brain damage or something....please reply. Thank you!

 

I will totally try that. The temps are fine, clean water and food. It's only one chick out of the 7. Everyone else is happy so I don't want to overheat the others just for this chick. I'll let you know if the feather duster works....thanks!