1-3 day olds trampling each other...

[MomtoRarities]

I have about 10 babies. Last night we lost one. Today while changing water, i watched babies get scared and all crowd in one corner. One of the smaller ones got "tipped" over and couldnt get off its back. Fortunately I was there to pick it up. Went to brooder this afternoon and found another dead baby. Is brooder too small? Is this common? We have started building a new brooder, but I cant get it to be done fast enough....thoughts?

 

[junebuggena]

How big is your brooder? Do the chicks have room to stretch out and run around even with the food and water in there? If not, then your brooder is definitely too small.

 

[enola]

How big is your brooder? What temperature is it?

 

[MomtoRarities]

It's 95 degrees since it's week 1. It's a bath cabinet turned brooder, as seen on pinterest. The new brooder, which should be ready tomorrow is 2'x4' and I will have 8!

 

[junebuggena]

The new brooder will big enough for another week or two tops. Chicks grow fast.

 

[MomtoRarities]

Oh wow, I thought that having 8 brooder that were 2 ft by 4 ft would be plenty. I have 7 breeds I'm raising and only 5 large outdoor coops. So I'm also having to figure that out. My outdoor coops are 12 ft by 7 ft each.

 

[MomtoRarities]

Oh, and they rotate who gets to free range each day so I can maintain pure babies.

 

[junebuggena]

By 2 to 3 weeks old, they need at least 1 sq ft per chick. By 4 weeks old, they need about 2 sq ft. By the time they are 8 weeks old, their space needs are very nearly the same as adults.

 

[MomtoRarities]

Ok, so I can have 8 2-3 week olds per area and then 4 in the 4-6 week old brooders. Then I can move them outside, right?!

 

[junebuggena]

Yes. But introducing chicks under 12 weeks old into an established flock is risky. Introductions and flock integration must be done slowly, gradually and very carefully to protect the younger ones. A period of time were the adults can see and hear the chicks, but not touch them is important. You need to get them used to each other before you allow them to interact.