Caring for chicks the first 72hr after shipping

I have had chicks from TSC, didn't lose not even one.

I order day old babies to be mailed. They were in transit only 1 day.

1 dead on arrival, 1 died a day later, then another a day later ( today ). am I doing something wrong?

They are on Chick crumbles (and eating well from appearances)
Drinking water with electrolyte added.
Heating bulb available for them to warm up, they have room to move away as well.


Is there anything else I need to do?

The benefit of buying chicks that were shipped at the feed store is the weaker ones died on their dime not yours. More than likely nothing you could have done differently as those chicks were going to die irregardless of what you did.

Percheron chick said:

The benefit of buying chicks that were shipped at the feed store is the weaker ones died on their dime not yours. More than likely nothing you could have done differently as those chicks were going to die irregardless of what you did.

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About what I was fixing to say---theirs is shipped too. I have been there when they were putting them out and see dead ones and been there right after they open and the guys say there was some dead when they got there.

I'm a big fan of a dose of Poultry Nutridrench for each chick, whether shipped to my home, shipped to a feed store and then brought hone from there, or hatched in my incubator. It bypasses the digestive system and goes directly into the blood stream for a much needed pick-me-up and can often (not always, mind you, but most times) give a weak chick just what it needs at the exact time it needs it most. Good luck!

What Blooie said. PND is THE MOST IMPORTANT item in my poultry care tool box. Aside from the PND, you'll look into that tool box, and find it pretty much...... empty!

Blooie said:

I'm a big fan of a dose of Poultry Nutridrench for each chick, whether shipped to my home, shipped to a feed store and then brought hone from there, or hatched in my incubator. It bypasses the digestive system and goes directly into the blood stream for a much needed pick-me-up and can often (not always, mind you, but most times) give a weak chick just what it needs at the exact time it needs it most. Good luck!

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I actually have some. started the first weak chick on it but was never recovered. The second died over 3 hours i was gone from home. no others appeared off before i left. ill continue using it.

Where is it bought without wallet shock ??

46hillbilly said:

Where is it bought without wallet shock ??

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I bought it yesterday at Tractor Supply for $7.99. It was the last bottle in stock so be sure to go soon, they may be selling out with chick season arriving.

And once you buy it, it lasts for a long, long time. I still have the first bottle I bought 3 years ago. It's just one of those things that is so sensible to have on hand - even adult chickens that have been ill or injured can sometimes use the little boost it gives them. To me it's one product that is more than well worth the wallet shock. I got mine at TSC.

Blooie said:

And once you buy it, it lasts for a long, long time. I still have the first bottle I bought 3 years ago. It's just one of those things that is so sensible to have on hand - even adult chickens that have been ill or injured can sometimes use the little boost it gives them. To me it's one product that is more than well worth the wallet shock. I got mine at TSC.

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46hillbilly said:

Where is it bought without wallet shock ??

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If you can't find it locally, you can order it on line.

I agree with Blooie. It may be a bit pricey, but it is well worth the expense. Consider this: Which economy model makes more sense: Having PND on hand and using it (I use it with all of my chicks, and sometimes with an adult) to ensure robust healthy birds, or not spending the $8, and having one or two or even more chicks each season that simply fail to thrive?

PND is the ONLY medication I have in my Poultry First Aid Kit.