There are times when a cat cannot look after the baby chicks for different reasons or when the chicks are without a mother. In these situations, it is important to step in to provide the care they require, giving them a new chance at life. This process can be complicated and may require a lot of effort. Especially if we are unsure how to do it properly.
This is why I created this guide on how we care for baby chicks. This way, you will be able to understand their needs better and how you can provide all the help they require.
You need to keep in mind three key points when caring for a chick, that is:
– ensure a suitable environment;
– prepare and give an appropriate milk formula;
– ensure proper management.
If the chicks have a mother and can eat on their own, the choice to offer artificial food depends on the overall health of the chick, its weight at birth, and its growth compared to the other chicks in the nest. The chicks can also eat 2-3 times a day, and in the meantime, they can stay with the cat to nurse.
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How do you choose the veterinary clinic suitable for your pet?When the chicks of the newborn cat no longer have the mother, artificial care is required.
The ideal solution is to find a surrogate mother who has lost the girls or has a small nest. A cat with strong maternal instincts is better than any artificial care. This will provide some social and behavioral stimuli with the chicken, as well as nutrition and cleaning.
If your child needs additional power supply, it is necessary to calculate the daily requirement after the formula that will be presented below. You have to keep in mind that a chicken for children feeds 4-6 times a day. The chicks of the newborn cat who are weak and smaller need to feed at least 6 times a day, the tables are divided equally into 24 hours.
It is very important to keep track of the child’s weight from the beginning. Therefore, it weighs it at an 8 -hour interval in the first 4 days after childbirth, then every day, for two weeks, after which 3 to 3 days until I reach a month.
The containers and nipples used to power the chicks must be meticulously and boiled. Nobody except you should have access to the room where you grow the chicks. All those who touch the chicks must wash their hands before contacting them, especially if they had first contact with other cats. Many infectious diseases, in particular viral, can be transmitted to cats by people who have recently come into contact with an adult cat that brings symptomatic or asymptomatic.
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The importance of blood tests in petsIf the chicks are unable to feed on breast milk in the first two days of life, the administration of the serum, by subcutaneous, by a healthy cat can be considered to give chicks a little immunity to about 6 weeks of life.
There are numerous milk formulas specially designed for babies, which have a composition similar to breast milk. Cow’s milk is not appropriate for cat chicks and also the milk designed for dog chicks.
The milk powder is reconstituted by adding hot water based on the instructions in the package. The rest of the remaining refrigerators of reconstituted milk, but does not freeze. Always before nourishing the chicks, heat the milk but be careful not to be too hot.
In emergency situations, when you do not have milk specifically designed for cats, a composition composed of:
– 237 ml of complete milk
– 2 egg yolks
– 1 teaspoon or 5 ml of vegetable oil
– 1 drop of pediatric vitamins
This formula offers 120 calories per 100 ml;
How to do correctly external for catsThe best method to determine the amount of milk needed for each baby cat is weighing each kitten and using a table with the calorie requirement. This is reported below.
The composition of the milk powder milk is similar, but the exact quantity of food can vary depending on the product. Read the instructions carefully.
To calculate the need for milk powder for each meal, weigh the chicken you want to feed to determine which amount of milk is necessary per day. So divide this quantity with the number of meals requested per day.
It may be necessary to adjust the quantities according to each individual.
When a chicken is adequately nourished, its abdomen will feel full, but not tense or relaxed. Avoid excessive diet because this can lead to diarrhea and other complications caused by it.
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Cats diabetes – Company stuffUntil the chicken cries excessively, weight increases, feels firmly to the touch and has a brown chair open 4-5 times a day, you can be sure that the diet meets the nutritional requirement.
At the age of 3 weeks you can give chicken milk from a small dish to learn to drink alone. At 4 weeks of life you can mix the milk formula with solidly designed solid foods for this age.
Administration of milk powder for cats – power supply with the bottle
The bottle has the advantage of satisfying the need for chicken to suck, but it must be strong enough to be able to do it.
To the formulas of commercial milk in general are added to the package and a bottle and some exchange nipples. They should be perforated with a hot needle to allow the flow of milk. The hole must not be very large because the chicken can drown if it swallows too much milk simultaneously or can reach the level of the lungs producing pneumonia.
To administer milk, the chicks of the newborn cat should be maintained with the breast and should not be kept on a child on the back, because milk can reach the level of the trachea.
Gently open the mouth of the chicken and tilts the bottle at an angle of 45 degrees to avoid the ingestion of air. When a chicken received enough milk, you will see how the bulbs do in the mouth. Power is so placed about 5 minutes or more.
Incubator
Another problem that can put life to the newborn chicken is the excessive reduction in body temperature. To avoid this you have to keep the chicken hot. You can improvise a incubator in a few minutes using a cardboard box to divide so that each chicken has its own compartment. This is beneficial because, if the chicks are orphaned and cannot be breastfeeding, they have the instinct to suck and replace the cat nipples with their ears, queues and genital organs of the other chicks. This behavior appears in the first 3 weeks of the chicks. After this period they must be brought together to socialize and develop their normal behavioral models.
The incubator temperature is crucial since the chicks will not have a mother or other chicks to keep them warm when they feel cold.
In a perfect situation, the incubator should be at room temperature, meaning between 29.4 and 32.2 degrees Celsius. To monitor the temperature, it is best to place a thermometer inside. You may place bedding underneath the box and if you cannot keep the temperature steady, you can use a heater to provide warmth. If you opt for the heater, be careful not to give off strong light. The young chicks do not require a lot of light during the day. They should be arranged so the chicks can move to a cooler area if needed.
Electric pads are not advised because newborn chicks can become too dehydrated and might get burns from constant heat exposure. However, if a blanket is necessary, it should be kept only on half the box to let the chicks move if they feel too hot.
In each section, under each chick, you can place a diaper or a piece of pet pads. This will make it simpler to clean the incubator and keep an eye on the droppings of each chick, which can be a good sign of overfeeding or a possible infection.
Cleaning
Along with feeding and incubation, keeping the environment clean is very important for the newborn chicks. Thus, in the first 3 weeks of the chicks’ lives, after every meal, use a cloth soaked in warm water, and gently clean the anal and genital area to help them urinate and defecate. At this stage, the chicks cannot relieve themselves on their own. Therefore, this step is essential for them. You may also need to gently massage their tummy and dry the area afterward.
Common issues that arise
Overfeeding
The first sign of overfeeding is the presence of a soft and yellow stool. Lower the formula concentration by mixing it with one-third water. As the stool returns to normal, you can slowly increase the formula back to its original concentration.
With a too-rich diet, the food moves too quickly through the intestine, causing green stools. This happens due to undigested food. Cut the formula concentration in half. Slowly get the formula back to its original concentration while the stool normalizes.
If the stool becomes firm and looks like milk, it means that the chick is not absorbing any nutrients. In this case, you need to consult a veterinarian for help.
Underfeeding
Newborn chicks that do not get enough food will cry constantly, are lethargic, do not gain weight at all, and become weak. They become quickly dehydrated and may develop low blood sugar when they do not receive enough nutrition.
Constipation
Some chicks have fewer stools than others. This can be normal, but if the stools are hard and the chick seems to have trouble passing them, then it’s an issue. Constipation often happens when the chick eats solid food. The chick’s belly might feel hard when touched and looks relaxed. In this case, you can give the chick between 1 to 3 ml of mineral oil. Remember, chicks should be encouraged to urinate and poop. Chicks that already eat solid food usually do not need encouragement. A chick that has never pooped may have a birth defect.
If the chick is not doing well overall, has discharge from its nose or eyes, has ongoing soft stools, is lethargic, or shows any other signs of sickness, you need to take it to the vet right away.
For more tips on caring for newborn kittens, you can find specific books online. Avoid using sources that are not specialized or various websites.
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