Buff 1 week chics die

[debid]

Chick grid? Does ordinary soil do the same work ?

It does if it's sandy soil. We have heavy clay here and they'd struggle to find anything useful in it. So, I used the very small bits from our gravel driveway (it's granite scrap -- same thing they use to make commercial chick grit). Now that they are big enough to range, they can get to the driveway on their own and that's where they go for their grit.

 

[cafarmgirl]

If you are putting soil in their brooder coccidiosis is definitely a concern, symptoms are as you described, onset of lethargy often followed by a quick death. It would also explain the messy bottoms although that has multiple other causes as well.

For the ones you have left I would be very careful to keep their behinds clean and I really would treat the whole batch with a round of Corid asap at this point since they have been exposed to the soil. They may or may not have contracted a case of coccidiosis but you have lost an awful lot of them. It does no harm to treat and you may just save the whole batch if that is what's going on.

Corid comes as a liquid or a powder, most feed stores have it. It's in the cattle section. I get the Corid 20% powder just because it's easiest for me to find. Dose is 1/2 teaspoon per gallon of water for 5 to 7 days. Make it fresh every day. I don't recall the dose for the liquid but a quick search on this forum should find you that info.

Good luck with your little ones.

 

[mtnviewfarms]

They need to be in a brooder box until they are old enough to fully feather out. Normally at least 8 to 10 weeks.

The red bulb of the brooder lamp needs to be far enough away from
the chicks that they can move away from it if they are too hot and closer to being more directly under it if they are too cold. The best light to use is the kind sold at Tractor Supply or Hardware store that has the big red bulb that is in an aluminum casing with a part on it that you can open and attach to the box to keep it up and far enough from the chicks
to keep from getting too hot.

They need to be fed CHICK STARTER. People have varying opinions on this but I always start the chicks I hatch out on
Medicated Chick Starter - at least for the first month as it helps protect them from the deadly Coccidossis that is the most prevalent in the heat and humidity of Summer.

I also have had great results with Apple Cider Vinegar - small amount in daily water supply. Make sure when you buy it
it is the REAL thing as there are major brands that are only 'apple flavoring and colored' and are not true ACV. Only the
real ACV has the preventative and immune strengthening attributes.

Forget the dirt and worms until they are older. Right now they need dry bedding like clean pine shavings and NOT dusty ones as they will harm their fragile respiratory systems.

Pasty butt needs to be cleaned immediately or they will not be able to deficate and the backup will kill them quickly.

Pasty butt dosen't usually occur if you are feeding them, watering, brooding, keeping bedding clean, etc.


Edited by Staff

 

[greenmimama]

I got 25 that shipped out last week Tuesday, they were here by Thurs. and I have had 11 die, no pasty butts and nothing else that I can tell that is wrong with them, but only the Isa browns have died, none of the other varieties.

Where did you buy yours from?

 

[donrae]

Are they too warm?