I orders some day old chicks online. I got them in the mail and one was dead in transit, which is to be expected. They guarunteed 25. So I was happy when I had 30 live chicks. I noticed 3 had crooked toes, which I gave them tape shoes like I have seen people on BYC do before. Then I went ahead and put them in my newly made brooder w heat from 2 lamps so they were nice and toasty.... and little by little they started dying off. I got 30 live chicks on Friday and now I only have 12. I am worried that they have some sort of disease. I looked at something called Mareks disease. I just dont know if its it though. When I got them alot of the keep both eyes closed alot. Its like they were not very alert. Then they would get weaker and weaker. I ended up putting some poly vi sol ( no iron) in there water so that maybe having some vitamins would make them stronger but no luck. They get weak, then they lay down on there sides and then just die. I feel so helpless. I am emailing the company that sold them to me. It was double R outlet... they order them from the hatchery and they get shipped to me. Should I start vaccinating them as soon as I get them. I have no problems with any of my other chickens but these havent even been in contact with any. They are totally separated. Can someone PLEASE tell me what to do??? I am very sad that they are dying and I am scared that they are all going to die if I dont do anything. I just think I have done everything that I can think of. Thanks
Sometimes the chicks die of stress when shipping occurs or sometimes it is a small virus. The virus happened to us when we lost 2 chicks. It eventually went away.
Mareks takes 6-8 weeks to show symptoms. You must be doing something wrong. They need to be around 90 - 95 degrees in the brooder and have chick start and fresh water available at all times. How long have you had them?
I got them in the mail friday. They have 2 heat lamps in the brooder which keep it about 95. They have fresh water- plus a couple drops of vitamins. I have only had them 2 days.. I really do not know how i can do something THAT wrong....
Also when I see that one or 2 start acting weak I put them in my incubator that is set at 99... hoping that maybe that will help. I put a little dish of food and water in there... but by the time they start acting weak they are not interested they just lay down and die. Its very sad.
don't feel bad. It happens to all of us. I am sure you did nothing wrong. It takes time to learn. Even I have lost chicks and just chalk it up to what I have learned from the previous expriance. that's why we are one big happy BYC family. To help each other, not tell you, you did something wrong. You allready feel like that and don't need to be reminded. I used to think my chicks needed all the heat until it was 95 in the brooder. Than I learned to start watching what they were doing. What time of year was it. I have hatched all year just learning and maybe only one hatching from a batch of 12 eggs. Were they in a pile, were they all dispursed laying here and there, panting not panting. ext. ext. This is what I do. If I know that it's warm out side a sunny day, at 60 or above inside your house. Watch them, just like babies they will let you know what they need. If in a pile, turn the heart up in the brooder until they are not piled up anymore, a little at a time. Maybe they are comfy at 85 instead of 95. I put a blanket in with them to help snuggle, and a stuffed animal. You will be more comfy to knowing they are happy. Anymore I raise my babies in a playpen with an indirect heat bulb, the kind that does not put out light, not a brooder bulb. I find they can regulate their own temp by how close they they under it and learn there is a night time to be quiet. Some don't even want the heat. Some will need it until 5wks old. You kinda half to feel them out. There are no exact rules. So again don't feel bad. I can't tell you how many times I have cryed my eyes out because I had the heat to high and lost them. Hugs Karen
Sorry I can't be of any help. I feel very bad fore you. I do think the 99 is a bit to high but then again that might might be the right thing to do. How long were the chicks in the mail? What kind are they? I hope someone can help. Good luck.
They were shipped on November 4. I received them on the 6th. They were a straight run of sebrights. I was planning on keeping about 10 for breeding purposes and then selling the rest. Now I guess I am out of luck. I am going to email the company, but I do not think they will do anything about any that die other than in transit.
So sorry, I know it's hard. I got 8 a week and a half ago and lost 3 in the first 7 days. It's similar to your story, they would be fine then all of a sudden I would notice one would get real weak, not walking, then die shortly thereafter. I tried vitamins, electrolytes, acv and probiotics in the water at different times and felt SO bad! I'm sure it's not your fault, I agree with lovemychikns...wish I had more advice but it may just be one of those things... You should definitely let the hatchery know.
I have a friend who raises Sebrights. She always gives sugar water for the first 2 days. She will even dropper the sugar water to the sides of their beaks to insure they are taking in some fluid. I have heard that Sebrights usually need to be "jump started" as chicks anyway. I made sure my hatchlings had access to sugar water even when they were raised by their Mamas. They are such tiny little critters and they don't have the body weight or heat to survive too long and I bet Silkie and lovmychicks are right and they just had too much stress. Keep on trying. We're here to help.
