Dehydrated Day-Old Chicks? Here's How to Treat Them Fast

Day-old chicks (DOC) are one of the keys to a successful chicken farm. If many of your chicks die, don't expect the farm to turn a profit, because fewer birds will make it to harvest. DOC also aren't cheap, so buying them takes a fair amount of money. That's why you shouldn't let your chicks die needlessly; care for them well until harvest time arrives.

Besides disease, one thing that can damage or weaken a chick's health is dehydration. Overheating, getting chilled, ammonia gas poisoning and hunger also make chicks more likely to die.

How to Treat Dehydrated Day-Old Chicks

Here are several effective ways to treat dehydrated DOC:

Remove the Dehydrated Chicks

The first step in treating dehydration is to take the chick out of the coop. This gives it more space to take in oxygen. Then check the chick's condition: is it still alive, unconscious or weak? If it's alive, you can move on to the next steps.

Also read 5 Mistakes in Raising Day-Old Chicks

Give Water as Soon as Possible

The next step for a dehydrated chick is to give it water as soon as possible. Water is the source of life for animals and every living thing on earth. Check the birds' feed and water on a daily schedule to keep your chicks from becoming dehydrated or going hungry. If a chick is unconscious, you can give it water with a dropper so the fluid gets into its body properly.

Watch for Signs of Dehydration

To respond quickly to what's happening with your chicks, poultry farmers should know the signs of dehydration. Dehydrated chicks look pale, weak and listless. Their eyes also look sunken and dull, and the skin around the eyes looks dry or wrinkled. If you spot these signs, act before the chick loses consciousness: move it away right away from anything that could dehydrate it further, then give it water as soon as possible.

Honey

If you're having trouble getting fluid into a chick, you can mix water with honey, which helps the liquid go down the throat more easily. Honey also contains plenty of vitamin C, which helps keep the body fit, not only for humans but for other living creatures too.

Soak in Clean Water

If a chick is so dehydrated that it has passed out, you can soak it in a container of clean water. Soaking helps revive the chick's body. After soaking it for a few minutes, give it drinking water mixed with honey.

What Causes Dehydration

Several things can cause day-old chicks to become dehydrated. The main cause is not getting enough fluid into the body, which impairs blood circulation. You need to check the drinkers regularly. If they're empty, refill them with fresh water right away. Chicks can go a few hours without food, but not without water.

Besides not drinking enough water, dehydration can be caused by a coop that is too hot. A brooder does keep the birds and the coop warm, but if it's too hot, the chicks in the coop can become dehydrated instead. Another cause is transporting chicks over long distances, which means a long time on the road.

Also read 6 Tips for Building an Ideal Coop for Day-Old Chicks

Dehydration should never be taken lightly, because it can have fatal consequences for DOC and can even kill them. If you see signs of dehydration in your day-old chicks, treat them as soon as possible to prevent deaths.