baby chick deathx2

[hckyguy77]

These are my little buff orpingtons that I have gotten on friday. Last night one started like choking or gagging but could breath and then I woke up this morning to find another dead. I've got water with electrolytes and some apple cider vinegar in it and their chick start food. They are in a 4foot by 3 door enclosure the light is pretty close to the ground as the nights get closer to 20 degrees but the heat temp showed it above 90 this morning and any sun to help heat up. Only thing I can think to add is pine shaving which I have small animal bed shavings just afraid they will eat it. But I am lost not sure if the two died from cold or what. The room is closed off so no cold draft but the heat is their light. Any other questions let me know. These birds were sent from new Mexico a hatchery to a local pet place so born on wednesday. No signs of pasty butt or anything seemed active

 

[Impress]

How much apple cider is in their water? It looks pretty um vinegary.

A good level of ACV is 1 TB per gallon of water.

 

[hckyguy77]

I did a little plastic tablespoon of it the color is from electrolyte package mix. All mixed to a gallon size

 

[Impress]

Oh I see. A lot of electrolytes change the acidity of the water, as does ACV, and it isn't recommended to use electrolytes and ACV at the same time. They can interact with each other in bad ways. I would clean that waterer out and have just ACV, chicks really only need the electrolyte water for the first day to recover from shipping or stress.

 

[hckyguy77]

I dont have ACV with mother in it. should I use electolites until i get AVC with Mother or just go with the ACV non mother

 

[Impress]

I would remove the electrolytes completely and just have a little bit of ACV in the water until you can get the kind with the mother. Electrolytes are just a boost, it isn't healthy for them to be on it for long periods of time.

Think drinking only gatoraid when you need to hydrate with good clean water.

 

[hckyguy77]

Excellent reference I see your logic there

 

[hckyguy77]

All done. Put less than a teaspoon just to be safe andwill slowly add up to the tablespoon amount. Thanks for your help this definitely was not fun but that's life

 

[Impress]

Good luck, I hope that solves your issues! Keep me updated, my inbox is always open and I check it often.

 

[hckyguy77]

Me too its quite baffling for a first time since the one I saw die was perfectly fine as was the other. I am also going to add feather dusters as I saw it on another post that I thought might help for warmth if it is getting too cold somehow. Now I will ask, as long as they have room to cool down and get away from the lamp, is there any reason it could be getting to hot near the light bulb