What causes chicks to stop eating? What should be done?
I believe many people have experience raising chicks, and during the process they may run into some problems, among which not eating is one of the most common conditions. So, what causes chicks to stop eating? What should be done?
1. What causes chicks to stop eating?
1. Quality of the young chicks
When chicks stop eating, it has a lot to do with the chicks you bought. When buying chicks, choose lively and active ones. Do not buy any that are listless or cannot stand steadily, as these may be problem chicks.
2. Stocking density too high
If chicks are raised at too high a density, it can also cause them to stop eating. It is best to keep it at 30 birds per square meter, otherwise the rearing environment will deteriorate and the chicks' range of activity will be limited. If one chick is infected with a virus, the others will be infected as well, so the stocking density should not be too high.
3. Influence of the rearing environment
Besides suitable stocking density, you also need to pay attention to the temperature, humidity and ventilation of the rearing site. Among these, temperature control is especially important, because chicks have low body temperature and not very strong resistance, so keeping the temperature at around 33°C is most suitable.
4. Choice of feed
Feeding chicks requires feed that is fresh, of moderate granule size, easy to peck, nutritious and easy to digest. Commonly used starter feeds include crushed corn kernels, crushed rice and millet; if conditions allow, a complete compound feed can be used. When feeding chicks, add feed frequently and give small amounts, keep the room quiet, and make sure the last feeding at night is a full and sufficient one, giving 1/3 more than the other feedings and appropriately extending the eating time, so that the chicks grow better.
2. What should be done if chicks stop eating?
We should prepare medicines such as oxytetracycline, penicillin, furazolidone, sulfaguanidine, streptomycin and chloramphenicol.
Method 1: Add 200-400 g of furazolidone per kilogram to the chicks' feed, stir well and feed, continue for one week, stop for three days, then feed for another seven days.
Method 2: Add 10 g of sulfaguanidine (that is, 20 tablets) or 5 g of sulfadimidine (that is, 10 tablets) per kilogram of feed, stir and feed, for 5 consecutive days; streptomycin or chloramphenicol can also be added to the drinking water at 0.1-0.2% to feed the chickens, continuing for one week.
Method 3: Feed 200 mg of oxytetracycline per kilogram of chicken feed, or mix 2-3 g of oxytetracycline (that is, 8-12 tablets) per kilogram of water, for 3-4 consecutive times.
Method 4: Feed each chicken 2000 international units of penicillin mixed into the feed every day, for 7 consecutive days.
When raising chicks we need to be especially careful, because young chicks are rather fragile. During the rearing process, if chicks stop eating, these methods can be used to solve the problem.