9 splay legged chicks!Different ages!uncoordinated!Video!Another died!

[SeramaLife]

Quote:
I dont know what was before the chicks, my caretaker prepared tha cage. I am too afraid to clean it out and dump that infected(or not) sawdust anywhere. I don't want to get anyone else sick! There is noplace around that it can e dumped without fear of my chickens finding it. Allthe chicks are 3 weeks, though for some reason undeveloped.

 

[SeramaLife]

Thanks everyone!

 

[nnbreeder]

At this age they could be eating the shavins as well as the feed which will slow down their devolopment. As far as disposing of the bedding, post hole diggers work very well for things such as that. If you bury it the birds can't get to it.

Another alternative would be the wood stove. Just let the shavings dry out a bit first.

 

[threehorses]

I'm sorry if I sounded harsh, but this is serious business (of course you know) with little lives at stake and such easily changed environment. It's the very basic rule - like food or water - that unfeathered birds at the age I'm seeing by the feathers (the youngest) should be closer to 85 brooder temp - not close to the heat source, and it can be a bit cooler at the edge of the brooder.

That way they can spread about to comfort.

On the drinker, two bricks usually works for me. (That will also keep them from pooping in their water - in theory ha). But certainly will help with the shavings. You can also put a papertowel over the dish over the bedding right at the water dish.

In older poultry care books, you can find designs for appliances like brooders that run off the grid. Because the temp really must remain constant as they're not with a broody.

And the chicks probably aren't sick - yet. They are just needing some quick temperature changes, a little more age specific deal.

In other words, I think that all of their issues are environmentally caused.