5 chicks dead in last month

[SilkieCanada]

Is it normal for chicks under 1 month of age to die? I see no signs at all of any illness. I open the shed in the morning and I find a dead chick. Its the 5th one in a month. I suspected cold weather but its also happening on warmer nights. Poops look normal, birds act normal. No older birds died. Whats the normal death rate with young chicks?

 

[Denisemomof4]

I'm a newbie so take that into consideration, but chicks need to be kept VERY warm. Do you have a heat light for them?

ETA: You can buy a thermometer to measure the temp. With chicks that young, I *always* keep them inside. They must stay warm.

 

[SilkieCanada]

Quote:
I have them sitting under this

 

[GoldDogsMom]

I've only raised 1 group of chicks so far (I have 12 more coming in next week) but...like Denise said, they need to be kept warm. I wouldn't recommend moving them outside until they are feathered, like 8 + weeks. Good rule of thumb, start them at 95 degrees F then decrease temp by 5 degrees F each week.

 

[SilkieCanada]

Quote:
oh jesus. Ok I think you guys are right. Im an idiot.

 

[GoldDogsMom]

It's a learning process...did you see my addition to my previous post about the temp?

 

[SilkieCanada]

Quote:
yes thank you. Although I have found some dead under the heater too. Not in groups but I think a couple weeks apart there where 2 that died directly under the heater.