Tips on Silkie chicks

[haysmommy09]

Hi,
I need tips on raising silkie chicks. I haven't had any luck with them yet. I've done everything from adding stuff to their water to getting medicaded food. I've raised several chicks with no problems. Any advice will be greatly appreciated!

 

[haysmommy09]

Please help.

 

[Jensownzoo]

I really haven't done anything different with my silkie chicks, except making sure their tiny selves can reach the food/water. My practices include brooding with a heating pad cave instead of a heat bulb, I've never used a thermometer and instead adjust the temperature based on chick behavior, feeding fermented chick starter, large pine shavings as bedding, I spike their water with Nutri-drench the first few days to counteract the stress of change/transport, and I'll offer treats as early as a week old (finely minced at first) with chick-sized grit.

I have lost one Silkie, but I had two other chicks come down with a respiratory illness at the same time so I figured it was just too tiny to fight it off.