Early Chick Mortality! Help! Any thoughts from fellow BYC members?

[Arizonachick]

I conferred with a woman I know who ran a local hatchery and she is saying the same as many of you. She thinks its too early in the season to brood outside, especially with shipped eggs and first time broodies. Our temps have been all over the place. Last spring no one went broody until end of may/beginning of june. So I will take any chicks that hatch in the next month or so, indoors and brood them myself. Sad that I lost 7 chciks, but I'm glad that it does't look like its parasites or disease...just chicks that are not as strong, inexperienced mommies and crazy weather thats confused our animals as well as our trees. No apples again this year thanks to a false early spring. Thanks to everyone who took the time to read this and respond. It's a great feeling to have this community out there.

 

[Judy]

She thinks its too early in the season to brood outside

So much depends on management. This thread was written by a well experienced breeder:


https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/735392/redneck-fungshui-brooding-17-degree-temperatures/0_20

 

[winteree]

you may also want to add some grow gel and or save a chick to your chicks feed it's suppost to help with weak, sick or stressed chicks