Baby chicks keep dying

[Cilenia]

All good responses. BUT... I knew someone who had the same issue. She had me inspect her home. It was what I suspected.... Do you have a basement or sump pump open? Have you tested your home for Radon?
Remember why a minor would keep a canary with them in a mine? Canary would die if toxic gases were present. Most are orderless so you'd never know. But over time it can kill you also and usually if in home long enough people develop cancer. This was a friend's issue. Baby chicks will die if radon or toxic gas present also. You can get a test from Amazon. Her's was coming from an open sump pump. She got it fixed and retested after airing house out for a week or two and tested again. Now she has raised many chicks with none dying. No to mention her family is safer also.

 

[Nancyloveschickens]

Are you putting electrolytes in their water?

 

[Brian720]

I had one chick start to go weak on me. I mixed electrolytes and probiotics in their water and cut their feed with ultra kibble made a big difference they’ve all grown so much and everyone is happy

 

[bunnychick26]

I went through this. Chicks get “pasty butt” it’s a real thing look it up. It’s when poop dries and sticks to their vent (butt) and they can’t poop which kills them easily trust me I’ve had some die do to this. I bought 13 polish chicks from rural king and in 3 days all had died I called RK and they said something they will let to cold from the trio from the post office to rural king or where they were being shipped from and they die. I hope this helps. Sorry about your chicks QUOTE="Shelbydarienzo, post: 22465312, member: 566519"]
I have been trying to raise baby chicks, I am buying them from tractor supply, I have the recommended food, bedding, heat lamp, but my chicks start to die after a day or 2 and by 4-5 days they’re all dead. I have the temp between 90-100 and have the lamp on one side so they have a cool off side, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, I have done so much research and takes to so many people and am told I am doing everything right. Can someone please help I’m tired of seeing them die. I am not getting anymore until I can figure out what I’m doing wrong
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[renee015]

I have been trying to raise baby chicks, I am buying them from tractor supply, I have the recommended food, bedding, heat lamp, but my chicks start to die after a day or 2 and by 4-5 days they’re all dead. I have the temp between 90-100 and have the lamp on one side so they have a cool off side, I don’t know what I’m doing wrong, I have done so much research and takes to so many people and am told I am doing everything right. Can someone please help I’m tired of seeing them die. I am not getting anymore until I can figure out what I’m doing wrong

Temperature Should not vary, for example, keeping them in a garage with the Heat lamp will still allow for fluctuations between night and daytime. Pasty butt is another thing one needs to look out for, checking their bottoms for poop that’s blocking their vent and making sure to clean it. Make sure the food you purchase is not old, moldy or expired. MyPetChicken.com website has a free chick care guide you can read to get all of the info to be successful. You can do this! When you are successful, you’ll be glad you did. Good luck!

 

[NY Chicken Lady]

Baby chicks in their first days/weeks need some TLC to ensure their safety and growth.
1. When bringing them home, check each chick for "pasty butt" which is common in baby chicks. Pasty butt is when some poo covers their bottoms (you will need to do this daily for a about a week as if they get "pasty butt" they will be unable to go to the bathroom and die). To clean, take some warm (not hot) water on a cotton ball and gently wipe.
2. Upon entering their new digs, gently press their little beaks in their water for a quick dip - this helps know where their water is and also triggers drinking reflex. You know you did it right when you see bring their head up then swallow.
3. Baby chicks need warmth to survive. I've attached a temperature guide for reference. The easiest way to know if chicks are too warm or too hot is place the heater on one side of the container or bin. If all the chicks are huddled under the light they are too cold and you will need to lower the light a little (about 1 inch) at a time - if you drop it all the way down you can cause overheating and a baby chick will not survive. If the chicks are all at the opposite end away from the light, they are too hot. Its a little bit like the Goldie Locks theory, it needs to be just right . Also, be very careful as certain heat lamps, can ignite with chick dust (this is made from their little feathers). Also, the lights in certain heat lamps can break because of the glass getting too hot. Please be mindful and try to get something that is safe for you, your family and house as well as the baby chicks: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...healthier-options-to-heat-your-brooder.72482/

I hope this helps,
Kim

 

[WGHowell]

I have bought many birds from TSC. I haven't had any problems with them dying.As for heat lamps and all the other things they say to do I have never used a heat lamp after bringing them home. They say to do this ,that and the other I do it my way and have never had any problems .I just received an order of ducklings and their doing just fine .I set them up in a large kiddie pool gave the food and water and as i always do i first dipped their beaks into the water and have had no problems since. I feel that if they are babied to much that will cause them to die because they have to get used to the enviroment they are going to be living in. My birds seem to adjust quickly and thrive very well. I'm not sure what part of the country you are in but that may have something to do with how you birds react to their surroundings. And they may be getting to hot with the heat lamp if it is to close to them. I think they do better without one.

 

[NaperLix]

Make sure thermometer is taped under lamp tnear top of container your using to hold chicks,..85 degrees above their heads good,.cooler if over10 days.
Heat will easily kill them .its something pervasive ,not subtle.They need fresh air though warm,not hot good luck.

 

[mrswright091716]

I got mine from a Hatchery. Some places don’t vaccinate. As well as some places don’t raise their chicks in healthy over crowded places. I have always loved getting chicks from hatcheries. I can speak with the people there and get my questions or concerns addressed before purchasing. Maybe this will help? Have you noticed how the behavior is? Are they acting sick? Not eating or drinking? Have you noticed if any have sticky butt? I am sorry to had to experience the loss of your flock so many times.

 

[PineHavenMama]

I don’t buy from TSC live birds. I imagine the stress from the transport going from place to place is the killer. Also some of the birds don’t look to healthy. Usually when you order chicks online they ship you a minimum amount. Usually I will order 25 and they will send 4-5 extra. The extra are because they know the trip causes stress. It’s a numbers game. I recently received 15 turkey poults (no extras) and 4 died. If they die within a couple days they will usually refund you the amount. 4 poults was a $48 refund that was immediately paid. The thing with live animals and day old or week old chicks is that if they die it is usually that first or second week. After that they become more hardy.
If you buy chicks from a big box store or online you will also notice a lot of chicks get “pasty butt”. I hatch a lot of chicks now and the chicks that do hatch 100% have made it through and thrive and 100% have NO pasty Butt. THIS IS JUST MY EXPERIENCE and I believe that the chicks just have a hard transport and adaption and the stress is the ultimate killer.
what I do immediately though is give water with apple cider vinegar or some type of electrolyte or probiotic. If they don’t drink or eat they will die. They just won’t keep up with the chicks that do eat and drink.
good luck. If you were closer to me. I’d give you some chicks that I hatched. I have no problem helping people out that wanna take on this lifestyle

What ratio of ACV to water do you recommend? Perhaps that information is somewhere on this site. I haven’t figured out how to navigate very well yet. There’s so much great information.