Chick loss

[kris13]

So this is our third round of raising chicks. First round we had seven, no issues at all. Second one, we raised eight, had one crook-neck that was fixed with vitamins/electrolytes. This round, we had sixteen, one died from what we thought was constipation, but even after she pooped, sugar water / vitamins did nothing. (This was two days after we brought the first half home.) The second half we got from Meyer on Wednesday, and Friday night one of them started to seem lethargic, though initially she was never bouncy/full of energy. She really got worse overnight last night even with giving her vitamins/sugar water every so often. So again, only a couple days after they showed up. How common is initial chick loss? I know it's probably something internal but guess we lucked out with our first two rounds.

 

[HuskerHens18]

It happens. Some chicks just aren't meant to make it long. Just keep an eye for any other chicks that might develop new symptoms of something. Such as pasty butt, crushing, too cold, too hot, dehydrated, starving, abnormal poo, etc.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Not as common as you might believe. Whether I hatch them myself or get them from the post office I hardly ever lose one. If they come through the mail and here is a delay that changes things but I've never had that problem.

I don't know that I agree that you lucked out with the first two batches, that is my normal experience. It's more that you were probably unlucky with the later. Since those were isolated cases you probably did nothing wrong. The other chicks are fine. Some hatch with birth defects and are not meant to make it no matter what you do. You gave it your best shot, couldn't do any better.

 

[kris13]

Maybe wasn't the best phrasing, but yeah, looking back was hoping maybe jet lag, but she definitely stuck out / just got the feeling something was a little off.