Weak/dying chicks.

[MrsBachbach]

I've been giving her more untreated water. I been slowly stopping with the electrolytes. The BR has only had electrolytes the first day they arrived for a few hours and then today. But I figured since I'm still up, I'd update. She is currently minutes away from passing. I went back to feed her and found her upside down outside of the heater. I've got her alone in a box with the heat lamp and now I'm just waiting.

What are you feeding her? Kind of hard to feed a chick so I am wondering. Hydration is always more important than feeding. In fact, it's vital they be hydrated prior to eating.

 

[Frizzlett]

I've been feeding them chick starter mixed with water to create a sort of "oatmeal" texture. And also the crumbles are very tiny, it's more of a mash than crumbles. I have been giving them more water rather than trying to feed them. When I do feed them, I always give them a little water first and a water after.

 

[Frizzlett]

We stayed up until midnight with the Sebright until she passed. The Barred Rock is showing signs of improvement. I had to fish him out from under the heater and give him water by hand but he did eat a few crumbs on his own. He wouldn't eat at all yesterday. And I cleaned off his pasty butt last night, and he is still clean this morning. So, yay? I guess?

 

[Frizzlett]

The Barred Rock has taken a turn for the worst.

 

[Eggcessive]

Shipping stress can be evident for as much as 10 days after getting chicks. Even farm stores get them in the mail. I have been lucky with 2 shipments in the past with no deaths, but it seems that there are a lot of losses reported here. I always watch mine and give them SaveAChick or Poultry NutriDrench per label instructions the first hour they are home. Getting chicks from close to home is best. I also watch their behavior in feedstores. Sometimes they are overcrowded, have pasty butt, or the workers ignore their waterers being full of pine shavings. Many times i have seen chicks who are not going to make it. Sometimes I wonder how any little chicks make it to us. Sorry for your losses. Here is a good article on shipping stress by several vets:
https://www.upc-online.org/transport/71408shippingbirds.html

 

[Frizzlett]

The Barred Rock just died. I noticed he had a large lump on his right side near his neck with no feathers. The other Barred Rocks are pecking the bantams for no reason but I've never seen them pick on him. Any ideas? Is it where he's been picked on or could it be something else. I've noticed another Cochin standing around with his eyes shut every once in a while. He eats and drinks, and even scratches around but now seeing it worries me. The BR deteriorated so fast. He was walking and even eating at 8am. I worry that the Cochin will do the same.

 

[Eggcessive]

The crop is located in that area. He might have had an impacted crop, possibly from eating pine shavings. If the crop gets impacted from bedding, they can die from starving or dehydration. Sorry.

 

[Frizzlett]

Well that would make sense then. Thanks

 

[Kiki]

Corrid plus medicated feed?

 

[Frizzlett]

I only gave them a tiny drop of corid and mostly water. They had VERY little of the medicated feed. I had to remove all the shavings and put them on towels. All day they've been digging like crazy, flicking all of the big pieces of shavings out and eating the small ones. Grr! One Cochin has a huge crop. I took their feed away to see if it'll go down and I massaged all of them a little. I think I've found my problem.