Well, all I can say is, make sure you ask for and pay for Express shipping. I'm sure this is my error for not being careful about looking at what I picked when ordering, but the chicks were sent Priority Mail, left the hatchery on Tuesday, and didn't arrive on Friday (as I think I've said). And there have been consequences - one died in transit, and several did not look good when being unloaded. I lost 2 more Saturday morning, and another 3 overnight Saturday night. Lost another one this afternoon (who was looking bad but I was trying to help drink). And now yet another is suddenly looking like his leg won't work well. I feel that I must have somehow cursed myself by bemoaning how many chicks I was raising at once (seriously, I DO actually know how to take care of chicks, for heaven's sake). Most have been weak and have had clean butts at death, and I've been checking for pasty butt all along, but one of the chicks who died last night did seem to have it - I suspect it developed and progressed that night and overnight, because I didn't see it before bed and there were shaving with the poop on his butt, like he hadn't been moving. It's been such a sad experience to keep finding dead chicks - poor little things.
The good news (if there is any) is that not counting the one with the leg issue, I have 17 left that are doing really well, running around, acting normal, eating A LOT. They do seem to be big, but I'm remembering that they hatched Tuesday. I spent some time grabbing a couple who had a little dried poop by their butts and doing the pasty butt treatment (rinse with warm water and blow dry). I'm not taking any chances. I'm about to go back over to change their water and I'm going to do another butt check.
I'm really tired of going to the brooder and finding little dead trampled chicks.
Dead and dying chicks are the worst. This is precisely the reason I only order hatching eggs. Those poor, helpless little chicks just tug too hard at the heartstrings when they suffer. I truly hope that the rest will remain healthy and strong.
