42% morality rate at 72 hrs

[Simplicity Springs]

Just ordered 50 frypan chicks from Cackle hatchery and lost 2 the first night which is kinda expected. At 72 hours we have lost 21 and counting. First night lost 2 chicks, then the mass casualties happened 4 here 3 there in 72 hours we lost 21 chicks and counting. Or set up is as follows: We are currently using a 6 foot long by 4 foot wide plastic ventilated dock box. With a standard heat lamp from TSC with a 1 gallon waterer with probiotics added. The feed is the Dunmar medicated chick starter. We are using pine shavings about 1-1/2 inch thick. Humidity is about 50% and temperature is 94-97 in direct heat. All items were washed and sanitized prior to use. We have 18 chicks (light Brahmas) in the exact same set up right next to this brooder with 0 loses from a big box store.

All losses were originally shaking their heads (maybe related) then lethargic and gasping for air then gone about 5 hours later.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

That's a lot of chicks in that area. The temperature may be too hot, or they are smothering each other. I wouldn't brood more that 25 in that size. I would also make sure you have good air exchange, and a cooler end that is closer to 70 degrees. What watt bulb are you using?

 

[Simplicity Springs]

That's a lot of chicks in that area. The temperature may be too hot, or they are smothering each other. I wouldn't brood more that 25 in that size. I would also make sure you have good air exchange, and a cooler end that is closer to 70 degrees. What watt bulb are you using?

It’s the 250 w producers pride heat lamp. I misspoke it’s an 8 foot long 4 foot wide box. With heat at 95+- on one side and the outside ambient temperature on the far side. The air exchange may have been something we overlooked depending entirely on the breeze.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I don't generally use the 250 watt bulbs unless temps outside are below 40 degrees. 95 is a bit too warm. You may be losing them to heat exhaustion. It gets warm, and oxygen gets lower because of all the chicks clumped together. I'm just guessing, but it would explain the losses.

 

[WildNectarine]

The only thing I could think is about how wood shavings are toxic to birds, and yes, even pine and aspen, but they take so long to do anything, that it couldn’t be that.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

The only thing I could think is about how wood shavings are toxic to birds, and yes, even pine and aspen, but they take so long to do anything, that it couldn’t be that.

I always put down paper towels over shavings for the first week as chick do sometimes consume the shavings instead of the feed. That can be deadly.

 

[WildNectarine]

I always put down paper towels over shavings for the first week as chick do sometimes consume the shavings instead of the feed. That can be deadly.

Well, it’s also the scent oils, too. Vet told me.

 

[Simplicity Springs]

I don't generally use the 250 watt bulbs unless temps outside are below 40 degrees. 95 is a bit too warm. You may be losing them to heat exhaustion. It gets warm, and oxygen gets lower because of all the chicks clumped together. I'm just guessing, but it would explain the losses.

This was based off the hatchery recommendation of 95-100. Good to know I’ll swap that out tonight.

 

[ColoradoChicken89]

This was based off the hatchery recommendation of 95-100. Good to know I’ll swap that out tonight.

I think it's just tricky the way they say it, but they def only mean for a few hours (and kinda depending the ambient temp). I saw a video that breaks down this exact thing (cackle and them recommending a higher temps), but I think the way cackle explains it is missing some nuances...

Video Link:
Do shipped chicks need heat lamps NOT brooder plates?

I don't have personal experience with it so I can't really help more than that. My grandpa used to order like 100-500 chicks from cackle, and I know sometimes he would turn the heat up, and other times he would turn it down. It would kinda depend with a lot of factors though, and I never fully asked the method to his madness. I just know there was certain #s he would tell us to check on certain thermometers and chicken behaviors that warrented to call him and he would tell us what to do (either light up or down and/or expand or shrink their space).