Can chicks dehydrate and die?

[eggplucker]

I'm new to raising chicks, and I just lost two of my girls after 2 weeks. We've been keeping the temperature between 80 and 85, but in the box we're using there's no place for them to get away from the light and into some shade. Have I made a critical error that cost me two chickens? Could they have gotten dehydrated even though we keep their waterer full? We've purchased a small coop that gives them a place to cool down, but I don't want to lose any more!

Any help or bits of wisdom are greatly appreciated!

Thanks.

 

[gamechicken]

yes in fact it can get so hot the fat burn in them because it happened 2 me she wount drink watter

 

[JodyJo]

yes...they need a larger brooder so they can escape the heat...where do you live? Maybe you don't even need the heat lamp.
I had 3 EE pullets, I purchased in June...I used the light for one night only....they were fine without it due to our high
temps...they MUST always have cool water...and a way to get away from the heat....


a shot of the brooder I used for my 3 little ones...

When I had a lot of chicks I used the cardboard brooder like you can get from McMurray...

Do you have a thermometer? A definite need....

 

[shober]

How many chicks do you have? I got a watermelon box from Costco. You can get a large appliance box or a motorcycle box. These work very well. They must be able to get away from the heat when they want to. Some of mine get right under it and others just don't!! Mine are 3 weeks old today.

 

[BoltonChicken]

The best idea is to get rid of the heat lamp. They will not need it unless the temperature around them falls below 60 degrees. They huddle together if they get cold, but they need a place that is out of direct heat.

 

[eggplucker]

Thanks everyone for the replies. I have purchased a small brooder that gives the chicks a place to cool down. I live in SW WA and it gets cooler than 60 every night. The birds are 4 weeks old now and, when I replace the ones I lost, I'll have 7.

Hopefully I'm on the right track now and won't lose any more chicks. I feel bad enough already for what's happened!

Eggplucker