Using pedialyte for chicks

[Shockwave]

I bought a bottle of Poultry Drench from the local feed store and put a squirt or two of that in a quart of water. It adds vitamins and minerals and gives the chicks a boost. It's suppose to be a all natural supplement that acts quickly.

 

[aidenbaby]

The powder I use is just labeled electrolyte and vitamin powder. If you go into a feed store, they can show you some. My 4 oz of powder can be mixed with 128 gallons of water. Obviously this is WAY too much so I just mix 1/4 tsp with around 5 cups of water. Yes, I'm the goof that actually calculated it out.

 

[college town chick]

Aiden -- was it specificly for poultry, or was it just an all species type powder?

Our local feed stores (one of which is going out of business) are woefully understocked, and the Rural King is too.

It isn't easy keeping animals around here -- besides cats and dogs (and then only if you're willing and able to spend as much money on them as you would a child -- aka. plenty of doggy boutiques in the area, very little farm supply).

 

[NJbirdlover]

Quote:
I have been using a vitamin/electrolyte powder from TSC made by Durvet. I use a little less than 1/4 tsp for my quart waterer-just until there is a light yellow tint to the water.
My chicks came through the mail last Thursday morning and have been thriving and very active since. These vitamins are for all livestock not just poultry. Hope this helps. Nothing against the sugar but I figured I might as well give them something healthy from the start.

 

[walkswithdog]

Water will work for most. You can use water with light Karo - in a pinch. Sugar water if you don't have Karo but there is a slightly higher risk of pasting.

Unflavored Pedialyte works if you can't hit a feed store.

Yes, electrolytes benefit majorly stressed, shocky or dehydrated stock.

We use it for orphaned animals of most types. They often come in stressed, shocky, dehydrated or injured and sick.


Karo only provides energy to a struggling system.

Electrolytes help rebalance blood chemistry.

The smaller the baby critter the more important those two things are, and the more delicate the balance.

Some will do well without supplementation, just warmth, food and clean water. But that will leave weaker ones, ones with small problems that would not fare well and possibly die.

If you're trying to support those then yes, some form of electrolyte and a sugar/karo boost can help with survival rates.

 

[college town chick]

Thanks for the info on vit/electro and the Karo. I've only dealt with orphaned foals and puppies before (and human babies) -- chicks are something new and alltogether strange for me (they certainly are a lot smaller and delicate than a person, horse or a dog!)

So I'm guessing about 1/4 of a tsp per pint jug would work out ok?

I think I'll make my mom come over when they get here and give me advice -- she's a retired pediatric nurse, and these are babies, right?

 

[howtogrowanegg]

Hi Im4dabirds,

I've heard that sugar water is more apt to give the chicks pasty butt ... and that karo syrup works better.

I tried using karo syrup and pedialyte this spring to some chicks that arrived in the mail and seemed extremely stressed. I didn't have any exact measurements, but I was also trying to feed through a dropper. I wasn't very successful at saving the really stressed chicks.

I think if you could put some pedialyte and karo syrup in their water upon arrival it could help.

I'll try to search back forum posts for any measurements ... unless someone else has some suggestions

Good luck,

Scott

 

[aidenbaby]

The powder is labeled for livestock and poultry.

 

[cluckychick]

Quote:
Here's a link to my post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=162066