Babies dying (never has happened before)

[LibbyR]

I recieved my baby chicks today and 4 out of the 17 have died. 2 were DOA and then the others died even after babying. Does this mean stress or disease? Or is this a normal occurrence that I’ve just not witnessed till now? They have the vitamins recommended by hatchery. I ordered these from McMurray hatchery. The rest seem healthy and happy for now but I’m afraid every time the sleep that they’ll die. They are on pine shavings with Purina med chick starter with good space.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Sorry for your losses but it does happen. Shipping is hard on the chicks. Same thing happened to a friend of mine just this past week! She ordered from McMurray, 16 chicks. 10 out of 16 arrived alive, over the weekend 5 more passed one by one. Gro Gel was in the box, vitamins & electrolytes given when received ... Box was "handled" but in tack, she called the hatchery and was told probably they got chilled and/or handling. Shipping & weather the worst of ordering from hatcheries. McMurray will replace but the thought of the "suffering" the chicks went through.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

I recieved my baby chicks today and 4 out of the 17 have died. 2 were DOA and then the others died even after babying. Does this mean stress or disease? Or is this a normal occurrence that I’ve just not witnessed till now? They have the vitamins recommended by hatchery. I ordered these from McMurray hatchery. The rest seem healthy and happy for now but I’m afraid every time the sleep that they’ll die. They are on pine shavings with Purina med chick starter with good space.

sorry you had to go through that!
I had something similar happened to me, five of the eight I ordered died within two days. It really depressed me because I felt so bad for the chicks.

 

[Cindy in PA]

I never had any DOA chicks (many orders over 25 years) until 2 years ago when I had 3/15 DOA. The other 13 survived & are still doing well. I think it is the luck of the draw. One year I had 2 die after 2 days, which previously I only had 1 ever die after I got them.

 

[Folly's place]

So sorry!
I've never had losses like this month's order; two days in transit during very bad weather, with no heat packs included. Shipping stress, 8 dead out of 35 by three days here, awful!
Never again will I order chicks this early! The last two years things were fine, not this year.
I hope your remaining birds do fine. Have you contacted the hatchery? They are usually very good about replacements or refunds. It doesn't help the babies, but will make some difference.
Mary