Recent content by VFamily

Another update! All twelve chicks are doing great. They are now 7 weeksAt 5 weeks we let them in their run for the first time. They didn’t come out for the first couple days but on day three I kicked them all out to change out their bedding and install permanent roosting bars. After that they...

We are new to this and have a Run Chicken T50 but I wanted to chime in about their great customer service. We hadn't even used the door yet and I was installing the batteries and checking out the motor unit behind the plate when I dropped it on a hard surface, breaking the button to open...

I am very thankful for all the advice given to me here so I wanted to update everyone. We received another batch of chicks on 9/15 and am happy to say we still have all of them. We ordered 9 chicks and received 12. A mix of RIR, Barred Rocks, and Australorps. They have been raised right in...

Large shavings. I read the same about small shavings so we made sure to get larger ones.

Thanks for everyone’s responses today. I’m also thinking an environmental change. Not sure what it could be, though. To answer a few questions, the oil heat is the regular furnace for me house. In the summer it only comes on to heat my hot water heater. Also, the vacuum we have is a battery...

This sounds like the way to go. I know an extension cord will reach out there because I needed one while building the coop. @rosemarythyme the link you provided for your setup was a wonderful read. Thank you for that. I will give outdoor brooding a shot for the next time.

Rosemary, I live in massachusetts. We have had a very warm but rainy (and muggy) summer. I love this idea but I'd be worried about some of the night temps dipping down too low. How low is too low? Right now they probably don't go below 65 but as we get into the late summer they will probably...

Organic Mom, thanks for the reply. One thing is that they were actually in two different areas of the house when this happened. First batch was on the main floor and second batch was in our finished basement. We do have a radon system installed in the house and had the radon levels tested...

Thanks to all of you who have taken the time to reply so far. We are feeling very discouraged but ready to try making changes. We will try a different heater which may be causing an electrical issue. I could definitely be convinced that the heater could have a short but I don't think it is...

Made sure not to give cold water. Ran the tap in the middle trying to get it as close to room temp as we could. I live in Massachusetts. I briefly looked into this after the first batch died but I understood that they had to be over a certain age. Maybe 16 weeks or something. I can’t quite...

I suppose it sounds similar but in that instance the chick seemed to show signs that something was going on. We don’t see any signs at all and then within minutes every chick is gone.

Frankly, I’m also beginning to worry about water. It’s well water. Never had a problem with it. We have a sediment filter and after a couple months it’s pretty orange. Too much iron, perhaps? Though, we used it the entire time and the second batch lasted over 3 weeks.

That could be a possibility. I will try to figure out if I can troubleshoot that. One batch vaccinated, and the other was not. The first batch that was vaccinated did seem a little weaker in comparison to the second, though. A possibility.

I mispoke, we were working our way through these pine shavings and had not opened are bag from tractor supply yet: https://www.amazon.com/Manna-Pro-Flakes-Poultry-Bedding/dp/B00AQ4D3EU

I've attached a picture of the feed and the pool set up. The electrolyte is from Sav A Chick and the shavings are the flakes from tractor supply (regular flakes, not fine).