Within the first week or two after hatching, I keep losing my babies! They come out healthy and eating/drinking then suddenly become lethargic and die soon after. out of the last clutch of 12 eggs, only 2 survived to adulthood. Those aren't great numbers.
I incubate my eggs with a Brinsea Mini (with the egg turner) at 99.5 deg and get almost 100% hatch rate. I then put the chicks in a brooder box that consists of a large rubbermaid plastic bin, a gerbil style waterer, a small food dish, a red heat lamp, digital thermometer and paper towel bottom. Thermometer reads between 85 and 90 degrees. I keep it very clean in there and feed them game bird crumbles mixed with egg food.
I have noticed, however that the last few chicks that died had dried poo stuck to their bottoms and I had to gently remove it so they didn't get backed up. Perhaps it's this that is killing them? I don't know what else to do.
I incubate my eggs with a Brinsea Mini (with the egg turner) at 99.5 deg and get almost 100% hatch rate. I then put the chicks in a brooder box that consists of a large rubbermaid plastic bin, a gerbil style waterer, a small food dish, a red heat lamp, digital thermometer and paper towel bottom. Thermometer reads between 85 and 90 degrees. I keep it very clean in there and feed them game bird crumbles mixed with egg food.
I have noticed, however that the last few chicks that died had dried poo stuck to their bottoms and I had to gently remove it so they didn't get backed up. Perhaps it's this that is killing them? I don't know what else to do.