weak late hatch chick

[Pennyhen]

I have a banty hen that dissappears when she goes broody, 6 days ago she showed up with 2 chicks, 2 days later she had 4 and this morning there were 5 with her, only one of them was making a distressed chirping sound (which was why I noticed it) and couldnt keep up with mom and siblings, it cant stand up and was trying to hop to keep up. I think it just hatched, it has dried egg looking spots on it's back end and the umbilicus looks dry but new.
I picked it up and brought it in and fed some sugar water but it still wont/cant stand up. it rolls itself up on its bottom, just cant seem to get it's little feet under itself.
does this sound like a common problem to anyone?
any sugestions?


Thank you,
Laurie

 

[Msbear]

you're probably right.. it just hatched. Sometimes they need some time to walk ... in a day or two, it'll be fine. I would pen up momma tonight and stick all the babies under her. Keep her up for a couple days til everyone can keep up. Your lucky she came back with that many... Usually the late eggs just get left and don't hatch.

 

[threehorses]

When I've had weak babies like that in the past, I've just mixed chicken crumbles with water until slightly thicker than water and dropped some of that in the beak. Or jello in water. Or oatmeal (in the blender until it's literally powder) in the water til the water is just barely thicker than water but not much. That'll help hydrate the baby and give him some fuel.

My personal experience was that late-hatch weaker chicks often need more nutritionally and a little more careful watching because they'll get bullied by their brothers and sisters who have had a couple of days on them. So get your vitamin and yogurt ready.

Also, boiled egg yolk mashed and a tiny bit put in water also can jump start these babies and catch them up. (Freeze the part of the egg yolk you don't use - slice it first.)

 

[California Ducken]

Yes ditto.Been there done that.
You need to get vitamins in the water as well.My late hatch chicks developed a little slower than their siblings.
some kept their eyes closed for a few days and sat back on their haunches, were sooo wobbly that they kept getting ran over by the others.
Make sure the hen keeps it under her and dosn't kick it out....that's what mine did. And it got so cold it almost died.
Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[Pennyhen]

Hello,
Thank you for all the replies, I took her back out to mom and she sat on them all for a short rest period but then left this little one and took the sibs foraging. I went out to check after 30 min or so and it was siting by itself where I had left it with mom.

So, after carrying her around for an hour or so my hand because the distressed peeping is more than I can take, I pulled a page out of another forum members handbook, I cant remember her name but she is infamous for her cleavagebator….

Yes, little late hatch penny hen is happily (and blessedly quietly) riding around in my sports bra. She is so tiny that there is ample room for her there. DH wants to take “chicken porn” pics.

Anyway, the plan is to carry her around till she can walk, leaving her with mom at night.
Wish me luck, I MUST be nuts!

 

[kryptoniteqhs]

i would definitely do what msbear says.....pen up mommy and babies...a dog cage or box would even work so she CANT take the others out foraging! she will only be able to stay right there with them and not go anywhere, nor will they be able to and everything should be fine

it just needs some time to get its strength

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Agreed.

If you can't do that, then steal two of her babies and raise the three of them together. The other chicks will help this chick to eat more, thus be more healthy.

Then save the cleavagabator for their spoiling time. Three chicks fit in most sets of cleavage. lol. Tho not for long!

 

[Msbear]

The cleavagebator!!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHH!!!

I luv it.

Hopefully, in a couple days, it'll be up to snuff and you can return it to momma... I think they take them back for up to 5 or 6 days.

3horses is spot on with the vitamins and mashed yolk.. that will surely give it a boost. In the mean time, doesn't sound like the little guy is having too rough a go

 

[threehorses]

I can see a problem with this though...

If the other chicks see the lifestyle he's living, they might all feign illness to get a chance to ride around all day.

 

[California Ducken]

Hey maby we should market the idea. Could you see it on a late night infomercial? Oh the sales!!!!!! Ok I will ramble on so I will stop.