My silkie chicks are dying am I doing everything I can?

[LaceySilkieLove]

I just got 5 silkies in the mail yesterday and one has already died. A second has now gotten really lethargic like the first one did. They are less than a week old and very tiny as they are bantams. I'm trying polyvisol (sp?) and regular and wet medicated chick feed. But she is not eating not moving much, barely breathing, eyes closed and beek down. :-( very sad. Is there anything else I can do? The other 3 look ok... For now
Thanks!

 

[LaceySilkieLove]

I've raised small groups of chicks many times and this has never happened! Sad. Should I give them all polyvisol without iron?

 

[Reurra]

Electrolytes and vitamins might help. Going through the mail in a dark box with strange noises outside can stress birds. See if you can get them to drink Electrolytes disolved in water with vitamins. I have read too a little sugar water or molasses can perk them up enough to get food down them. Electrolytes too are supposed to give them an appetite.

Good luck with your babies!!

 

[Suzierd]

I've raised small groups of chicks many times and this has never happened! Sad. Should I give them all polyvisol without iron?

If you give them the Poly vi sol make sure it's the one with No iron.

 

[Adenium]

My silkie almost killed herself overheating under the heat lamp...stood lethargic with head down, sleepy, stopped eating or drinking. happened very fast.
She had room to move away but ran back under every time i moved her. got better after i raised the lamp entirely but had to make her drink for a few hours by dipping her beak. make sure they aren't too hot....especially if in a rubbermaid tote type setup as it's very common with those.

 

[stoopid]

Remember thes birds are very tiny, only a drop or so of whatever you dose them with.....
What kind of brooder do you have them in? Did you disinfect it well before you got them, along with the food and water dishes?
What kind of floor are they on? Pine chips, cedar, paper?
We need to know more to help you and them.
Good luck!

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

First, have they all eaten and drank? Lack of water and food would be my first guess. Get rid of the vitamins for now and simply give them gatorade or pedialyte. Gently dip each chick's beak in the gatorade. I would not use poultry electrolytes as most birds do not seem to like the taste, and therefore will avoid it.

Make sure the chick feed is in small enough crumbles that they can eat it; I recently had a few bags where the crumbles were so large I had to grind them smaller with a coffee grinder.

Also, check the babies over for lice and mites.

 

[sager:)silkies]

could u possibly have cococidis i know i spelt it wrong

 

[sager:)silkies]

First, have they all eaten and drank? Lack of water and food would be my first guess. Get rid of the vitamins for now and simply give them gatorade or pedialyte. Gently dip each chick's beak in the gatorade. I would not use poultry electrolytes as most birds do not seem to like the taste, and therefore will avoid it.

Make sure the chick feed is in small enough crumbles that they can eat it; I recently had a few bags where the crumbles were so large I had to grind them smaller with a coffee grinder.

Also, check the babies over for lice and mites.

sonoran i had that happen to me for about a month i had to crumble the feed in my magic bullet

 

[stoopid]

I agree, are you using medicated chick starter?

Yes, I also have seen the feed is larger than normal lately...