Weak 2 day old chick advice please =)

[MiaHudy]

Hi all,

My niece works as a teacher, one of the 1st grade teachers at her school incubated and hatched eggs in class. She had a great hatch rate, only one didn't make it. I did not see the hatch and have no knowledge of how the chick I am asking about did.

The one I am writing about was one of the latest to hatch, he is very small, and weak. She called me today to see if I could help. He seems to have difficulty standing, but does not have curled toes or splayed legs. He did stand for a short time in my hand. I just received him and one of of his siblings who was also a late hatch. I have given him a homemade electrolyte solution as recommended on this site, with honey, little salt, and little baking soda mixed with the water.

What can I feed him to help him gain strength?
What else should I do?
I have been feeding him with a small 1mm medicine syringe (like you use to medicate pets) He drank all of the water. He is pooping ok, but it is slightly runny.

He is warm, in a small brooder set up for him. I have paper towels in the bottom over shavings.

I feel that it may be too difficult for him to eat the chick starter crumble, so what is a good mix for a weak chick. How long should I keep him on the homemade electrolyte?

Thanks

 

[Laci7210]

I would try soaking the chick starter. Boiled egg yolk might work too.. Make sure that the water is medium temp because if it is too cold, it could decrease his body temp. Anybody else want to add to this???

 

[MiaHudy]

Okay I fed him some egg yolk mixed with the homemade electrolyte water, and he ate about 1cc or sm. syringe full. Once I put him back in the brooder with his buddy, he did walk around some and eat a couple crumbles but tired after about 10 steps. I am wondering if he is just really weak in the legs.

His fluffy is a little matted from my less than dexterous feeding attempts. His legs look a little off to me, what do you think?
He is almost half the size of his hatch mate.

I am sorry I did not get a better picture of his feet.

I took a couple pictures of him with his hatch buddy.


Any ideas what breed he might be? Could be a mutt too. Don't mind the food bits on his face.