My First Loss- Am I Doing Something Wrong?

JSossong

Songster
7 Years
Mar 8, 2014
163
12
136
Western PA
Its a sad day in our household here; we lost our first baby chick after 6 days somewhere between last night and this morning. Its very disheartening, especially when they all seemed to be thriving. They all look very healthy, growing so big even after only 6 days! I've been keeping close watch on them since the first day...they're all drinking, eating and playing nicely (no pecking). I have been cutting up bits of wheatgrass for them to snack on everyday, which they seem to love. They have grit offered to them in a seperate container beside their regular feed- which it seems most of them are picking through slowly. I even made them a little playground which they love perching on. I put their brooder in our furnace room since it's a nice, warm temperature along with a heat lamp. (The furnace is no longer in use.) Everything seems legit enough. Which is why I was so surprised to find one little fur ball not moving this morning. And now I'm searching for answers so I can stop this from happening again! I cleaned the brooder out this morning and examined the remaining chicks- one had a pasty butt (which I took care of promptly) but thats all that I found was wrong. I know that sometimes you just lose chicks and its not an uncommon thing, but I cant help but feel guilty because what if there was something I did wrong?

Any thoughts or suggestions are welcomed!
Thanks
xo
 
Agreed with browland above.....

Sometimes a chick just doesn't thrive for whatever reason. Of all the chicks we've had on this property in the past 4yrs (broody, meaties and additions to flock from outside) - there are some who just don't make it. Take heart in knowing that the remaining chicks are healthy and you're a good chicken keeper.
 
Thanks guys, that makes me feel better! I think you're right. The others are thriving, active and growing fast! I'm just keeping an eye out incase there is something wrong.
 
That's the thing about chickems, they drop dead at any time for no apparent reason. Keep an eye on the rest of them for more cases of pasty butt because that might indicate that there is a problem with their health.
 
I am so sorry for your loss! Devastating! Sounds like you have done everything you are supposed to do.

Thank you for posting this! We have just received our first flock of 16 yesterday, they are 4 days old today. We lost one yesterday after we got home. Looks as tho she didn't fare well in the shipping and was later squished. The second hasn't looked good. She didn't keep her eyes open, she wouldn't walk around and wouldn't eat or drink. I tried to have feed and water her, but that didn't help. I had them all vaccinated before they came, I put the Chick Start Electrolytes in their water and the Grow Gel Plus in their food. I saw one with pasty butt and cleaned and dried her. I have been anal about the temp and my son checks it every hour to make sure it stays between 90-95 degrees. It is heartbreaking to say the least. The others all appear to be healthy, happy and warm.

Good luck on your journey! Sorry it has started off rough.
 
@hmschlmom5 I have generally never had my brooders at 90-95. First week I have normally kept it around 80-85 but I generally pay little attention to the temperature. I just watch the chicks, listen, and see how they act. Its pretty easy to notice if they are cold, hot, or just right in minutes. So I wouldn't be anal about the temp, watch the chicks and see if they huddle together or are spread out. Too much heat can stress the chicks and cause pasty butt.


@JSossong Sorry for your loss. One thing I wanted to mention, since you mentioned your chicks in your furnace room. I hope you have plenty of ventilation. A sealed up room with chicks in it won't fair well.

Any lost I have ever had was in the first week normally. If you lose one in the first 4-5 days, generally it wasn't mean to be. Unless it didn't understand where the food and water is, which is unlikely. By the third day the yolk has been completely digested and the chick is living on an empty stomach. If it doesn't eat or drink, its a guaranteed death sentence. Normally in a few hours or less. I have seen some push 4 days. I had one pass recently, perfectly healthy a few hours before, check in on all them, and there it was dead. 6 days old too. It sucks every time. Baby chicks are fickle things.
 

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