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Barnyard Buddies:  Trouble with my chicks  |
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nouveau_farmchick
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
Paris
Sequim
Wa
USA
173 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 05:25:23 AM
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My chicks are three weeks old, over the weekend they started to show signs of weekend. Some topple over when they try to walk, some just can't even stand. The water and food is all clean, and bedding. I added Pedialyte to their water. Any other suggestions?
God bless Farmers |
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gafarmwoman
True Blue Farmgirl
244 Posts
Pam
Georgia
USA
244 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 06:00:44 AM
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Pennie, do you have any terramycin? Here is what my instructions said that came with my baby chicks.
This broad-spectrum antibiotic is a shot-gun approach to the problems that can occur during the growing period. Colds, chronic respiratory disease, air sac infection, fowl cholera, and other diseases can be helped if treated early. Terramycin can be used on poultry if they are not laying yet. Dosage 1 tsp. per gallon for maintenance 2 tsp. per gallon for treatment.
(NOT DO NOT ADMINISTER TO CHICKENS OR TURKEYS PRODUCING EGGS FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION.
I hope it helps.
You can never have enough friends.
Please come and sit a spell with me at Life on a Southern Farm
http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com |
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gafarmwoman
True Blue Farmgirl
244 Posts
Pam
Georgia
USA
244 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 06:30:02 AM
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I know how upsetting sick chicks can be, Pennie. My chicks had an extremely rough shipping, staying the weekend at a cold place somewhere.
Here are a few more things I thought of:
Sugar water was a life saver for a lot of my weak chicks. I added 3 tablespoons of sugar to a gallon of water. Then the instructions said to add 5 more tablespoons of sugar for the weak ones. I kept dipping their beaks in the room temp.sugar water and it did help the weak ones.
Also check their rear ends for pasting up. I had several with that also. I remove it with a warm soapy water and a clothe.
They also need grit.You can buy it at the farm/seed store. I also use egg shells mashed or ground up good and sprinkle it over their feed.
I am also adding 1 teaspoon of the powered vitamins & electrolytes per gallon of water.
Good luck.
You can never have enough friends.
Please come and sit a spell with me at Life on a Southern Farm
http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
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nouveau_farmchick
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
Paris
Sequim
Wa
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 5:26:09 PM
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Thank you, I think that they must have gotten cold. We still have snow and freezing weather. Although they are in a greenhouse with heat lamp it's possible that they could have had a draft. I will try all of your suggestions and let you know.
God bless Farmers |
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PlumCreekMama
True Blue Farmgirl
730 Posts
Heather
Iowa
USA
730 Posts |
Posted - Mar 31 2008 : 7:45:27 PM
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If they are too cold, they would all be crowded together directly under the heat lamp. You want it so that they are all spread out in the box, not all under or all out of the heat lamp, that's how you can tell if the temperature is right. Did you check their rears? If they are pasting up they will start dying, so check right away and pull the poop off if there's any.
http://plumcreekmama.blogspot.com/ |
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wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 10:22:16 AM
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Pennie,
another thought..........is your greenhouse really humid ? I was wondering if this could cause respatory problems. I have never raised chicks in a greenhouse before. I am getting 26 chicks this friday and was considering putting mine in the greenhouse for a few weeks. I don't know if I should do this or just put them in a box in the house.
One time I hatched chicks in a incubator and they started doing that about 4 days later. I was told to give them antibiotics like Pam had suggested. The ones that could not walk passed away. But the ones that were just starting cleared up and got better. So I don't think it would hurt to do tha antibiotics and the other things the ladies suggested above. One of them is bound to help.
Good luck !!
Linda
Each day is precious...take a few of those minutes for yourself. |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 12:46:44 PM
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Another thing to try...I put a little cider vinegar in my chicks water, with some sugar, too (about 2 T vinegar and a t. of sugar to a quart of water) and they really like that. It actally makes them drink more. They also might be getting too warm, which I've found makes then a little delirious.
Keep us posted...hope they come around!
Carrie
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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OregonGal
True Blue Farmgirl
511 Posts
Chris
No. IL
USA
511 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2008 : 2:33:06 PM
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I would caution to make absolutely sure, not only under a heat lamp, but that they are out of any drafts.
I start my chicks out on mashed up hardboiled eggs with oatmeal. When I'm sure they are eating well,
then I start introducing chick starter into the food. Sugar water might help them get some strength back.
Hope they all make it. |
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gafarmwoman
True Blue Farmgirl
244 Posts
Pam
Georgia
USA
244 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 06:56:13 AM
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I had thought of that later too, Chris. I mash hardboiled eggs up good and add finely chopped wild onion green tops. My Grandmother taught me that years ago. She said she had tried and tried to raise baby turkeys and the boiled eggs and onion tops worked wonders with the turkeys so she started giving the egg mixture to baby chicks too. Regular green onion tops work good too.
Pennie, I hope things are going better for you and the chicks now.
You can never have enough friends.
Please come and sit a spell with me at Life on a Southern Farm
http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com |
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mythkat
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
kathy
stagecoach
nevada
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 12:37:15 PM
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| Where did you get the chicks from? |
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nouveau_farmchick
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
Paris
Sequim
Wa
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 3:53:10 PM
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Murry Mc. Murry
God bless Farmers |
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mythkat
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
kathy
stagecoach
nevada
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2008 : 3:56:46 PM
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| Check out backyardchickens.com. MM had an outbreak of Avian Encephalomyelitis and the symptoms you describe fit. Call MM and tell them so the chicks can be replaced. It's passed from the hen to the eggs. |
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mythkat
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
kathy
stagecoach
nevada
USA
13 Posts |
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nouveau_farmchick
True Blue Farmgirl
173 Posts
Paris
Sequim
Wa
USA
173 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2008 : 06:06:36 AM
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I will call MM,one of the chicks is doing better. But some are worse.
Kathy, I appreciate that vet. link, it may come in handy with all the animals that we have.
God bless Farmers |
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mythkat
Farmgirl in Training
13 Posts
kathy
stagecoach
nevada
USA
13 Posts |
Posted - Apr 03 2008 : 09:10:13 AM
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| You're welcome, glad to help. I have one chick now who isn't as perky and I'm worried. So far I haven't lost any and the oldest are five weeks. Hope your's recover. It's so hard to watch and not be able to help them. |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Apr 10 2008 : 11:33:02 AM
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Pennie-
How are your babies doing???? ARe they perking up?
Carrie
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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mrsmorgen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
morgen
coudersport
pa
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Apr 11 2008 : 5:19:15 PM
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If a chick pastes up can you treat the sore little area with anything? i have one adn her little bum seems so sore!
Morgen
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all..
laura ingalls wilder |
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2008 : 06:50:55 AM
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Msmorgen..I've used regular antibiotic cream like neosporin on pastybutt before. Or plain vaseline if you've got that.
GOOD LUCK! It's pretty quick to heal.
Sage
Hiding in the broom closet (my craft room!)
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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Carrie W
Farmgirl Legend/Chapter Guru
437 Posts
Saratoga Springs
New York
USA
437 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2008 : 09:12:18 AM
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I've used mineral oil in a sprayer (like a water mister) and then just give them a squirt or two when I see the pasting up. I think it gets on there better and keeps me from having to try to spread something around on an already irritated bottom. Plus, if they pick at it (which they will) the mineral oil won't hurt their system. I use this on adult birds too because we sometimes see problems there and egg laying with a sore bum must be rough!!
Carrie M
www.totallykadeshfarm.blogspot.com
Farmgirl Sisterhood #147
Tis better to weep at joy than to joy at weeping--Shakespeare, Much Ado About Nothing |
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Sagewood
True Blue Farmgirl
106 Posts
South Carolina
106 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2008 : 09:26:06 AM
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Good idea about the mister Carrie!! Thanks! I'll remember that if I ever need to do that again!
Sage
Hiding in the broom closet (my craft room!)
http://sagewoodfarm.blogspot.com/ |
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mrsmorgen
True Blue Farmgirl
146 Posts
morgen
coudersport
pa
USA
146 Posts |
Posted - Apr 14 2008 : 5:29:52 PM
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Thank you and one more question, one of my chicks today just started favoring one foot. other wise she walks fine just seems to tilt when she lays down. are we headed for serious trouble? what should I do?
morgen
I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all..
laura ingalls wilder |
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Barnyard Buddies: Trouble with my chicks |
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Trouble with my chicks
