Question Chick not eating
Chick not eating
I have a new chick that doesn’t seem to eat. It’s not lethargic or anything, yet. It peeps a lot and when I try to encourage it to eat, it sometimes pecks at the food, but doesn’t seem to be able to get it down. She had a piece in her mouth and scratched it out. Does anyone know what that is about, or what I can do?
1
- Happy
- Poultry Guru - pullet level
- Posts: 3886
- Joined: Wed Oct 05, 2016 8:46 am
- Location: Wasaga Beach
- x 10924
Re: Chick not eating
I'm not a chick rearing expert so hopefully others will jump in here but I would try mixing some Honey water (or sugar water) and put one drop at a time onto her beak. She will suck it in and swallow it. If you have nutri drench or save-a-chick you could use that. The secret is to just place a drop at a time and don't force anything into her beak. Sometimes they just need a little extra boost.
Were they shipped chicks?
Were they shipped chicks?
1
- Killerbunny
- Poultry Guru - total zen level
- Posts: 7882
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
- Location: Brockville
- x 10172
Re: Chick not eating
Can you grind up some of the feed so it is smaller? I have had to do that with turkeys sometimes.
1
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
- Killerbunny
- Poultry Guru - total zen level
- Posts: 7882
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 12:04 pm
- Location: Brockville
- x 10172
Re: Chick not eating
@Blizblaz you could try some yoghourt with chopped hard boiled egg.
0
Beltsville Small White turkeys.
Mutt chickens for eggs
RIP Stephen the BSW Tom and my coffee companion.
RIP Lucky the Very Brave Splash Wyandotte rooster.
RIP little Muppet the rescue cat.
Re: Chick not eating
They were shipped to farm store from hatchery chicks. The rest are doing well so far, and she doesn’t look ill or anything. I’ll see if I can get her to swallow something softer. I had some small pieces, and she pecked at them, but wouldn’t go as far as swallowing it.
1
- WLLady
- Stringy Old Soup Pot Hen of a Moderator
- Posts: 5614
- Joined: Mon Dec 07, 2015 9:55 pm
- Location: Rural near West Lorne and Glencoe
- x 8530
Re: Chick not eating
if shes only a day old she may not be hungry until a couple days after you get her...they have tummies full of yolk that last about 3 days post hatch. most important that they drink-i would try water or a little water with sugar or electrolytes to stimulate drinking. just a drop at a time.
2
Pet quality wheaten/blue wheaten ameraucanas, welsummers, barred rocks, light brown leghorns; Projects on the go: rhodebars, welbars
Re: Chick not eating
She is doing better. She’s much smaller than the rest still, but maybe she was just younger than everyone else? Although I’ve had a couple of chicks before that act similar and never really turn it around. We’ll see what happens in a few weeks!
2
- Jaye
- Poultry Guru - chick level
- Posts: 2954
- Joined: Sat Dec 12, 2015 9:14 am
- Location: E Ontario
- x 2995
Re: Chick not eating
fingers crossed she continues to survive and thrive.
1
RIP Scooby, AKA Awesome Dog. Too well loved to ever be forgotten. "Sometime in June", 2005 - January 24, 2017.
"Until one has loved an animal, part of one's soul remains unawakened" - Anatole France
"Until one has loved an animal, part of one's soul remains unawakened" - Anatole France