2 dead chicks...no apparent reason

[Minky]

No, they are called White Rock. My neighbour picked up her Cornish Cross from Freys last week, the day after I picked up mine. It will be interesting to see the difference in a few weeks time!

I spoke with Mill Pond and he told me that Cornish Cross are a slightly smaller breed then White Rock? Frey's advertised theirs as White Rock/Cornish Cross ...so I think they are all the same...

Mine are a week old now, and they are stinky! Hopefully Ill get them to the barn this weekend.

 

[Northern.Ontario]

All 3 of those names mentioned are the same chicken. White Rock, Cornish Cross and White Rock/Cornish Cross are synonymous. Stinky poop is from the poop being too watery. Lower your protein and the poop will get firmer and not stink. Plus adding new bedding every day or two helps.

 

[Mrs. K]

The reason they add a couple of extra, is losing a couple is pretty common.

I found stirring the bedding really helped. And I added water to the feed, making it about perfect for sand castles, cut way down on wasted feed, and lost the desperation for water. I was adding water 3-5 times a day.

Put mine outside in the coop/run at 8 days. They are all doing good. Feeding twice a day. Active, inquisitive, just like chickens only bigger. I think the strain you get is important.

Mrs K

 

[Minky]

what's the daytime/night time temp there in South dakota? (when you put them in the coop at 8 days?) I'd put mine in the coop, but someone told me they are likely to kill my egg layers( by way of disease I think the person meant).

Mine are big and healthy looking now- and GO CRAZY for their daily square foot of sod and soil they get. They pile on it and start scratching away. I so look forward to giving it to them.
I started my little layers on the fermented feed today- It was too runny to build a sand castle by any means, but I added some chick starter on top like sprinkles and mixed it in- it was a big hit with the 3-7 week old crowd as well as the hens.

I would like to get my meat chicks into a tractor asap, but we got a sprinkling of snow last night again, so I think we are a a ways off still. Next year, I may get them a few weeks later I think.

 

[Mrs. K]

When I put them out, we were still in the lows of the upper 20's, some day time temperatures were about mid thirties, but we have warmed up since then. I am a bit more worried about too much heat.

I gave my birds a true night from the get go, and used what I call a wooly hen, but an insulated bunker describes it better. I would just stick them under it and turn off the lights. This was in an unheated garage. In a week they were rapidly out growing both the brooder and the layer chicks that I got at the same time.

I took them down to the coop/run set up, went back and got them that night (chickened out) and then put them down there for good. I have good wind protection in both the run and the coop. I do have them in a separate coop/run from my layers. I think it might be more competition for the food, verses disease. The first week I locked them in the coop at night, but I have not been doing so lately. Tonight I locked them up in what was suppose to be a hail storm, but later went down and opened the pop up door, they are very hot blooded.

The grandchildren left the gate open, so they even did some free ranging...but I would not do that again, without strict observation. Mine are active so far, but slower and easier to catch.

I have read that the strain of chicks you get can vary, but mine (knock on wood) so far are quite nice chickens.

Mrs K

 

[Minky]

Im very interested in your wooly hen. Can you describe it? Do you think 25 meat chicks at 2 weeks old would be warm enough over night at freezing or just above temperatures?? (in a box with shaving etc?)
Ive got a momma heating pad set up where it hoovers above them on little chains, but thats in the brooder- .. maybe it could work in the barn..... I'd like to get them in the barn sooner rather than later- I even have an area set up...
They wouldnt be in contact with the layers (there would be a chain wall dividing them.) I think it would be good for them....

 

[Mrs. K]

Yes I think it would work, and yes I think getting them out of a brooder asap is best. Chickens need space. If you search wooly hen, I logged my whole adventure last year with layers.

This year, I took an old pillow, cut it in half, bent it U shape upside down, with the sides of a small box holding it in place. I did place a rock in the middle so that it would not fall down and smother them.

I would create two boxes with your numbers, and put half under each. I originally put this set up inside a tote, to keep them near this if they crawled out. Turn the light out and wait. If the peeping stops, or is just occasional, they are warm and asleep. They will sleep all night. I went to this, as I do not have electricity at the coop. I do it with my layer chicks too, they went out at 2 weeks. Much healthier in my opinion, chicks don't need near the heat we have been giving them, but they do need wind protection and some insulation.

Do it as you are set up now for a night or two, then take them down to the coop. I put the totes in the coop, on their sides, figured it was a better wind or draft block. The chicks were used to the totes, made them feel more at home. At three weeks none of them are using them at all now.

Mrs K

 

[Minky]

I so agree with you.... my 9 chicks (layers) that were born here on our farm with the help of my broody hen- they have been without her heat at night since 2.5 weeks when she started roosting! They want to be with her so one sleeps on top, a few under her on the roost, but the others are just up on the roost side by side, no heat- no problem!
I will try and move my meat chicks out side next week!
Thanks

 

[MINDANAO DAVE]

Thanks for all the tips.

I have been doing daily butt checks. I have the cleanest butt record ever! not one dirty butt in 6 days now.

I am using shavings. I think is mustve been over heating due to dumb bird being under heat when everyone else was by the fan....? or they were just duds/weak ones...

You could move your heat up a couple of inches it wouldn't hurt anything just to be sure. But most likely weak chicks. Good luck I am in the PHILIPPINES and two months ago lost 64 birds and saved 1 and all in 7 days to Newcastle Disease..Sunday I will start all over with 10 Easter Eggers. It was truly a tough week.