Weak/Sick baby

[LynneP]

Sometimes during a panic the simplest things seem unreachable. How are things going?

I had to ask how clean a chick butt to get little concretions off the vent. Heh. Turns out it pretty easy with a q-tip, warm water and a lap towel, if chickie will lay over your palm and let you. One was a real lady about it. The other, well, I named her Domina.

 

[chickenannie]

I took a chick from my turkey henmoms and put it in the brooder, so orphaned turkey chick would have a friend. He seems very happy to have his new friend. However new friend is not happy to be away from mom in stuffy old brooder.

 

[Julie08]

it will adjust quickly Im sure they will both end up being happy together.

 

[poltroon]

What's an appropriate ratio of sugar to water for a weak chick?

 

[chickenannie]

poltroon, I just did a search on BYC for "sugar AND water AND ratio" and a lot of info came up. Some advise sugar water, some advise not -- it can make them "crash" and have diarrhea. A few places said the ration is 1 sugar to 20 water. I really don't know anything about this or whether this is sound advice, but wanted to look it up for my chick.

 

[poltroon]

Thanks chickenannie. We are doing a little sugar water and also a little mushy food. The straw trick suggested upthread is a big help, thanks. I'm not optimistic with ours, but we'll do our darnedest for the little guy.

 

[basicliving]

Best of luck to you, poltroon - I really hope your little guy makes it. I've lost 4 of the 27 I started with, and each one was really hard on me. I tended to quickly bond with the weak ones because I spent so much time with them. It's just heartbreaking to lose them. I pray yours will be ok.

For the pasty butt, I take a wash cloth soaked in warm water and barely wring it out. Then I just hold it on their little butts for a little while. They don't seem to mind too much and end up basically sitting down on it while I'm holding them. Then I remove it and use my fingers to gently pick away the hard poop. I hope this is not TMI, but I cleaned one and as soon as the vent was clear, she pooted and then pooped about an inch of poop! It really scared me because I thought to myself if I had not cleaned her up, she probably would have not lived much longer with all that still in her. I keep a close eye out for pasty butt. I think the 2nd one I lost was probably from pasty butt because I didn't find it in time. I could be wrong, but I sure felt bad about that one.

Penny

 

[Chickenaddict]

I am on my second batch of babies this year already... First clutch was 8 babies about 3 months ago and this time out of 10 eggs under the hen i have 5 ranging between 2 and 4 days old.... I ALWAYS put vitamin and electrolytes in their water for the first month as well as in the summer when the temps are unbearable. I think it helps to make the chics stronger as well as keeping them hydrated.... they seem to like it anyway. Going back to penny's babies im soooo sorry for your loss, really brought back memories of when we started raising chickens and got 52 from Mcmurrays in april of 07 only to have 27 die on us. We did everything right by the book for the most part but when they are shipped in a box the size of a shoe box with a divider in it when the temps outside are still really chilly i guess you are bound to loose a few but 27!!!! talk about devistating. It was by far the worst thing i have ever been through as far as animals go... Stressful is an understatement i couldnt break away from them, I'd sit right by the broody box for hours talking to them and singing lullabys LOL some would say i lost my mind but not having any children of my own didnt help. It is still a learning experience for me and here we are over a year later. The neighbors get a kick out of seeing me in the yard with them and having them sitting on my shoulder while im mowing the lawn. I wouldn't give up my babies for anything or anyone ever.... they have become my life and i fully intend to keep them until they get old and pass reguardless if they lay eggs for me anymore or not. They have become the best pets i have ever had.

 

[basicliving]

Chickenaddict - that is so sweet! I would love to see a pic of them on your shoulder as you mow! I love my little chickens too and I've learned an awful lot in the short amount of time I've had them. I would do several things differently if I had the chance to start over with them.

I can't believe you lost 27 out of 52 of yours the first time! I can only imagine how devastating that was. I honestly think that losing 4 out of the 27 I started with is too many as well. I pray the remaining 23 will make it. I am hoping I never have to order them to be shipped again. I'm really hoping they will hatch their own when they are older. I think shipping is just too much stress for them.

Will you please tell me more about the vitamins and electrolytes you give yours? What is the brand name of them and where do you purchase them?

Take care,
Penny