runt baby doesn't know how to eat

[Raman6923]

After finding a baby who was born after the mom had left with her other babies I decided to raise him myself but he is so small and frail and he doesnt' know how to eat, I have to put water and chick start in water on the end of his beak and he'll take a little but it is not enough. I'm worried, what should I do?

 

[HuskerHens18]

Is this a chicken? Put food in a small bowl and start tapping it with one finger and pretend your finger is "eating".

If this is a duck, I had no luck teaching a baby duck how to eat when it didn't know how.

 

[sylviethecochin]

How old is the chick and do you have heat source for him?

Generally, before about eighteen hours, mine aren't very interested in eating. They'll peck at things, but they won't eat much/anything. Day two, they start being very interested in food, and then they have to learn to actually pick it up and swallow it. Generally, even the stupidest bantam chicks are proficient eaters of small crumbles by day three.

If the chick is chilled, he won't be interested in anything until he's properly warmed and has gained some strength.

 

[Raman6923]

Is this a chicken? Put food in a small bowl and start tapping it with one finger and pretend your finger is "eating".

If this is a duck, I had no luck teaching a baby duck how to eat when it didn't know how.

It is a chicken, roughly 2 days old.

 

[Raman6923]

How old is the chick and do you have heat source for him?

Generally, before about eighteen hours, mine aren't very interested in eating. They'll peck at things, but they won't eat much/anything. Day two, they start being very interested in food, and then they have to learn to actually pick it up and swallow it. Generally, even the stupidest bantam chicks are proficient eaters of small crumbles by day three.

If the chick is chilled, he won't be interested in anything until he's properly warmed and has gained some strength.[/QUOTEI do not have a heat source, during the cage he's in a cat carrier in the yard because it is 95 degrees outside, at night he comes in because it drops to around 57 degrees, inside I have a heating pad I use. I don't have a heating lamp. He or she looks different from the other chicks, I don't remember them being as small as he is or as lethargic, while trying to feed him just wears him out and he constantly falls asleep. I will try warming him real good tonight and try feeding again.

 

[HuskerHens18]

It is a chicken, roughly 2 days old.

Like Sylvie said, make sure it is warm enough. Then tap the food with your finger softly

 

[Raman6923]

How old is the chick and do you have heat source for him?

Generally, before about eighteen hours, mine aren't very interested in eating. They'll peck at things, but they won't eat much/anything. Day two, they start being very interested in food, and then they have to learn to actually pick it up and swallow it. Generally, even the stupidest bantam chicks are proficient eaters of small crumbles by day three.

If the chick is chilled, he won't be interested in anything until he's properly warmed and has gained some strength.

he is 2 days old.