Believe it or not, our little chick is still alive! Around 1 in the Am, LaVaughn and I decided to start force feeding. We had just been dipping the tip of her beak in the water and gruel, but that wasn't doing much for her. After I read online that you actually can force feed, it was on!
We sat with her for over 40 minutes trying to get her to eat. We would alternate soggy bread and her chick feed gruel. We got a really decent amount down her and decided to leave her alone for a while. An hour passed, then we decided to start again.
The second time around, she seemed to actually have some energy and was even starting to peck around at food on the floor! We were ecstatic, but still wanted to hand feed her. We didn't do it as long this time, but still managed to get a decent amount of food down her. We were also making sure she would drink in between if possible.
We fed her once more before we decided to bed down for the night.
When I woke up today, I was scared to walk in the room in fear of her being sicker or worse. As soon as I opened the bedroom door, I was greeted with lots of chirping! I walked over to her box, only to find her walking around and eating! I couldn't believe it was the same chick! Just last night, she couldn't even stand on her one, let alone eat on her own! I offered her some water and she ran up to it and started drinking!
I sat with her for a while and watched her. She walked around, ate and even went to the bathroom like a normal little chick. She's still weak and wobbly, but there's been such an improvement (knock wood). I just hope that she continues to progress and only gets better from here.
This is where the name, Mabel, comes in. That was my grams name and she was one of the toughest ladies I had ever met. She was always such a fighter and never had the will to give in. She had a lot of ailments towards the in, but never let that slow her down. I think Mabel is actually the perfect name for this little chick...
Love & Peace
-Megan
Showing posts with label gruel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gruel. Show all posts
Sick as a chick...
Unfortunately, one of our little Aracauna became sickly yesterday and went downhill very quickly. LaVaughn made some gruel out of chick feed and warm water and tried to get her to eat that. The first couple times were successful, but her health just kept decreasing. I honestly thought she was a goner around 4 this morning, but kept hanging on.
When I woke up a little while ago, I was sure I was going to find a dead baby chick. To my surprise, she was still with us! I sat down next to her box and got her out. She's still very, very weak, but seems to be keeping her eyes open a little more than yesterday. I stuck her little beak down in her water so that she could get a drink. After I did this a couple times, she took a couple drinks on her own! I tried to get her to eat, but she wasn't having it.
If this little girl makes it, she's going to be one tough little broad!
I honestly wish I could say that I think she's going to make it, but I just don't know right now. I don't even know what happened to her! I mean, I know it's kind of hit and miss with baby chicks, especially if they're under a week old. I know she didn't get cold -- there are two different heating lamps on her -- and I know she had food ans water. It's just one of those freak things that happens.
It's really starting to pull on my heart strings. I almost lost it last night when I was holding her and her tired little head kept dropping. It's killing me and there's nothing I can do for her...
I have to get off of this subject.
I wanted to talk about the rats, but I just feel so bummed now... We've pretty much stopped tent time with the rats -- it's just so taxing to get the tent out every night -- and started taking them in the bathroom, like we used to do with Evan and Jonah.
Sally has a blast, while Emilie hides in my shirt. She's worse than a glider when it comes to getting in your shirt! I didn't take many photos of them, unfortunately. If you've owned rats before, then you know just how hard it is to snap a good photo! I recorded a little video of Sally that I think will make up for the lack of pictures, though. It's great!
I suppose I need to go check on the baby chick. Wish me luck!
Love & Peace
-Megan
When I woke up a little while ago, I was sure I was going to find a dead baby chick. To my surprise, she was still with us! I sat down next to her box and got her out. She's still very, very weak, but seems to be keeping her eyes open a little more than yesterday. I stuck her little beak down in her water so that she could get a drink. After I did this a couple times, she took a couple drinks on her own! I tried to get her to eat, but she wasn't having it.
If this little girl makes it, she's going to be one tough little broad!
I honestly wish I could say that I think she's going to make it, but I just don't know right now. I don't even know what happened to her! I mean, I know it's kind of hit and miss with baby chicks, especially if they're under a week old. I know she didn't get cold -- there are two different heating lamps on her -- and I know she had food ans water. It's just one of those freak things that happens.
It's really starting to pull on my heart strings. I almost lost it last night when I was holding her and her tired little head kept dropping. It's killing me and there's nothing I can do for her...
I have to get off of this subject.
I wanted to talk about the rats, but I just feel so bummed now... We've pretty much stopped tent time with the rats -- it's just so taxing to get the tent out every night -- and started taking them in the bathroom, like we used to do with Evan and Jonah.
Sally has a blast, while Emilie hides in my shirt. She's worse than a glider when it comes to getting in your shirt! I didn't take many photos of them, unfortunately. If you've owned rats before, then you know just how hard it is to snap a good photo! I recorded a little video of Sally that I think will make up for the lack of pictures, though. It's great!
I suppose I need to go check on the baby chick. Wish me luck!
Love & Peace
-Megan
Rats make a horrible mess...
Emilie in my shirt.
This cute little rat SITS in LaVaughn's hand while she's eating.
Video
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