Hi everyone!
I'm new here and a new momma to five baby chicks. I was hesitant to post a question because I feel this information has already been covered, but reading through the older threads confused me.
I got my hatchery chicks day before yestetday- I went in on a order with some people I met online. I got two salmon faverolles, two Easter eggers and one welsummer, all female, all vaccinated for mareks. We had an hour drive home and they were pretty stressed out. Upon getting them settled in, one of the chicks (the welsummer) seemed very weak. I got everybody else eating and drinking, but she wouldn't. She was just laying on her side, and the others were trampling her and pecking at her a little. I did some research online, and based on that, I seperated her in another box (with a heat lamp as well) and made a strong solution of honey water. Since she would not drink or eat, I dipped her little beak in it every half hour or so. Eventually she perked up....it took several hours. So I gave her some hard boiled egg mixed with her starter crumbles and she finally started eating. Because the honey water worked so well, I continued giving her some throughout the day yesterday, and by late afternoon I was able to move her back into the box with the other chicks. She is still a little weak, but she is eating and drinking on her own, and the others aren't picking on her anymore. She is thinner than them, she sleeps more than they do, doesn't seem quite as coordinated as they are... but she is so much better then she was. She breathes a little heavier and quicker....but I think she might be okay.
She has had a pasty butt problem (so has one of the Easter eggers) but I've been checking them every hour or so. They are eating medicated chick crumbles and are at a tempature of 95 degrees.
Sorry for all the information! So, here are my questions.....I read on a thread this morning that honey is dangerous to them! I can't believe I didn't think of that, and she got a LOT of honey water throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday! I will be going into town today and I can pick up anything I might need to help her. We have a southern states close by and also a health food co-op. Will yoghurt help if I gave her to much honey? Or should I get some sort of supplement from southern states? She is doing so much better, I really want her to make it and I hate to think I may have done something to harm her!!
Also, my second question.....should I be checking them less frequently for pasting up? It does stress them out when I bring them out of the box. Is every hour doing more harm than good by the stress it causes them?
Thank you all so much! I'm so sorry this is such ablong post, I just wanted to give you all the background info before I asked my questions.
Andrea
I'm new here and a new momma to five baby chicks. I was hesitant to post a question because I feel this information has already been covered, but reading through the older threads confused me.
I got my hatchery chicks day before yestetday- I went in on a order with some people I met online. I got two salmon faverolles, two Easter eggers and one welsummer, all female, all vaccinated for mareks. We had an hour drive home and they were pretty stressed out. Upon getting them settled in, one of the chicks (the welsummer) seemed very weak. I got everybody else eating and drinking, but she wouldn't. She was just laying on her side, and the others were trampling her and pecking at her a little. I did some research online, and based on that, I seperated her in another box (with a heat lamp as well) and made a strong solution of honey water. Since she would not drink or eat, I dipped her little beak in it every half hour or so. Eventually she perked up....it took several hours. So I gave her some hard boiled egg mixed with her starter crumbles and she finally started eating. Because the honey water worked so well, I continued giving her some throughout the day yesterday, and by late afternoon I was able to move her back into the box with the other chicks. She is still a little weak, but she is eating and drinking on her own, and the others aren't picking on her anymore. She is thinner than them, she sleeps more than they do, doesn't seem quite as coordinated as they are... but she is so much better then she was. She breathes a little heavier and quicker....but I think she might be okay.
She has had a pasty butt problem (so has one of the Easter eggers) but I've been checking them every hour or so. They are eating medicated chick crumbles and are at a tempature of 95 degrees.
Sorry for all the information! So, here are my questions.....I read on a thread this morning that honey is dangerous to them! I can't believe I didn't think of that, and she got a LOT of honey water throughout the day Wednesday and Thursday! I will be going into town today and I can pick up anything I might need to help her. We have a southern states close by and also a health food co-op. Will yoghurt help if I gave her to much honey? Or should I get some sort of supplement from southern states? She is doing so much better, I really want her to make it and I hate to think I may have done something to harm her!!
Also, my second question.....should I be checking them less frequently for pasting up? It does stress them out when I bring them out of the box. Is every hour doing more harm than good by the stress it causes them?
Thank you all so much! I'm so sorry this is such ablong post, I just wanted to give you all the background info before I asked my questions.
Andrea
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