Bought 30 day old chicks from a large commercial hatchery for the first time. They sent 31 by mail and they arrived next day. Two died in shipping which I understand the mortality rate is rather high for day old chickens. Day three another died. Day 4 another. Today I watched one die after trying to aid when checking on the brooder. And there’s another acting lethargic I think will probably find dead tomorrow.
I’ve never had this many chicks die but I’ve never done this many chicks at one time before. It it common to have this many deaths? They are really young not the week old chicks you’d get at a store that are hardened off a bit more. Brooder is set to 95 using heat lamp. Medicated 20% chick feed. Fresh water daily. Started giving electrolytes. No one is too hot or too cold, plenty of space to regulate. No one’s peeping in distress. Actually lots of happy chirps. But there’s so many I may have missed the ones that weren’t doing so well. Did separated observation on each individually to ensure they are eating and drinking. That’s how I found the lethargic third one. No pasty butt. Ruled out starve out since I saw them all eat.
31 chicks originally. 5 going on possibly 6 losses. That’s a lot right? Or is this the risk when buying day old chicks that are shipped?
I’ve never had this many chicks die but I’ve never done this many chicks at one time before. It it common to have this many deaths? They are really young not the week old chicks you’d get at a store that are hardened off a bit more. Brooder is set to 95 using heat lamp. Medicated 20% chick feed. Fresh water daily. Started giving electrolytes. No one is too hot or too cold, plenty of space to regulate. No one’s peeping in distress. Actually lots of happy chirps. But there’s so many I may have missed the ones that weren’t doing so well. Did separated observation on each individually to ensure they are eating and drinking. That’s how I found the lethargic third one. No pasty butt. Ruled out starve out since I saw them all eat.
31 chicks originally. 5 going on possibly 6 losses. That’s a lot right? Or is this the risk when buying day old chicks that are shipped?
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