Chick suffocated under water container, was it a Freak thing???

avaschicken

Hatching
Mar 29, 2015
3
0
7
New Jersey
Hi, I am new to this and I ordered 4 baby golden laced Wyondoettes. I did tons of research set up a brooder in a large plastic storage container and sadly today one got itself trapped under the plastic upright water container and died. I didn't know this happened for three hours, and we were all super upset and kept blaming the dog. We thought he sneeked in and ate one. I don't want this to happen again so I have the food and water containers in the middle. Was this a freak thing? Is there anything else I can do to prevent this?
 
So very sorry about your chick :hugs What sort of water containers do you have / can you post a picture of your set up? I'm having a hard time picturing a chick being able to trap itself under the plastic waterers I'm familiar with.

And Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC!
 
I know it was the weirdest thing. I tore our office apart looking for it when I noticed the chick was missing even though I knew they couldn't jump out. I didn't look under the containers because they were laying flat like normal. The only thing I can think of is it got Wedged between the wall and then went under the water container. The chick was smushed flat too when I found it. Just horrible.
400
 
Try a different water container, I use the same water one was under it one time but we came and counted them and found the alive and well chick running to its friends.:cd
 
That's odd. I have several of those drinkers and have never had that happen. Maybe, like you said, it got wedged between it and the wall and dug itself under. I put mine on a piece of 2x4 to keep bedding out of it and the surrounding bedding dry. And the wood is also probably why I've never had one get under.
 
sometimes chicks fail to thrive, and they just die. They can go from ok, to dead in a little bit of time. If the chick was already weak, and got stuck, it could have easily died. Chicks are often very stressed when they have been shipped, and not all of them make it.

I think your plan of moving it to the center is a good one, nipples are also good for watering both chicks and adults, and keep the water cleaner.

From your picture, not sure about your set up, so just fyi, and you may already be doing this, make sure that there is a warm spot and a cool spot in your brooder, this allows chickes to move as needed into warmer spots when they need a nap, and cooler spots when they are up an about. Keeps them healthier.

Mrs K
 
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I use those waterers also for small chicks and haven't had anything like that happen... but I also don't put them directly on the shavings, if I have shavings in there the waterers go on metal pans or bricks. Besides a chick trapped in the back somehow managing to dig under the waterer through the shavings, maybe something tipped the waterer a little (other chicks (small for that but who knows) or the dog if it was looking in there) and a chick got under and got trapped, I would also wonder if someone accidentally put the waterer on top of a chick, would think you would notice a missing chick if you only have four but if in a hurry etc, could see an accident happening.
 
Ok thanks for all the great tips and advice. I have been keeping the water in the middle now and have not had any problems. Although, I do have to change the water constantly to keep the bedding out. I will try securing a wood platform under it. Thanks again!
 

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