Chicken mortality problems

[BuddaGuy]

Hey, new to raising chickens and we started with 5. After a few days we found one not moving under the heat lamp. Assuming it’s the heat we moved our heat lamp higher up and got a thermometer to check the temperature, hovering around 90 for the chickens who are about a week old. We were able to go back to tractor supply and get just one extra because they remembered us, but just two days later another one of the originals has passed away. I really don’t wanna kill any more babies so any help and insight is greatly appreciated. My guesses for the current problem is maybe it’s still too hot, or maybe they’re kicking too much bark in their water and I’m not clearing it enough, but lmk if you have other ideas or would like to see the set up.

 

[CloneFly]

Hey, new to raising chickens and we started with 5. After a few days we found one not moving under the heat lamp. Assuming it’s the heat we moved our heat lamp higher up and got a thermometer to check the temperature, hovering around 90 for the chickens who are about a week old. We were able to go back to tractor supply and get just one extra because they remembered us, but just two days later another one of the originals has passed away. I really don’t wanna kill any more babies so any help and insight is greatly appreciated. My guesses for the current problem is maybe it’s still too hot, or maybe they’re kicking too much bark in their water and I’m not clearing it enough, but lmk if you have other ideas or would like to see the set up.

Can you send a picture of the set up? Are the babies huddling together in one area or looking droopy/sleepy? At a little over a week, they should be fairly active.

 

[BuddaGuy]

Can you send a picture of the set up? Are the babies huddling together in one area or looking droopy/sleepy? At a little over a week, they should be fairly active.

They huddle occasionally but I’ve seen them a few times in the night hopping around the feeder while one or two sleep separately under the lamp, so I believe they’re comfortably warm enough to sleep alone. I think they’re pretty active but maybe I’m wrong considering it’s my first time.

 

[CloneFly]

They huddle occasionally but I’ve seen them a few times in the night hopping around the feeder while one or two sleep separately under the lamp, so I believe they’re comfortably warm enough to sleep alone. I think they’re pretty active but maybe I’m wrong considering it’s my first time.

Ok, those look closer to 2wks than a week, which means the heat lamp placement should be fine either way. The first one may have died from stress/weakness incurred during shipping to TSC, and the same goes for the second (so sorry for your loss btw!). Any chance you have NutriChick or Poultry drench on hand that you can give them to help give them an extra boost?

 

[StinkyAcres]

Your problem may be that the brooder is too small and they can't get out from under the heat lamp to regulate their temperature. They need a warm side AND a cool side.

 

[BuddaGuy]

Ok, those look closer to 2wks than a week, which means the heat lamp placement should be fine either way. The first one may have died from stress/weakness incurred during shipping to TSC, and the same goes for the second (so sorry for your loss btw!). Any chance you have NutriChick or Poultry drench on hand that you can give them to help give them an extra boost?

Using purina electrolyte and probiotics, alternating between them every two days. Is that enough or should I get the other stuff too?

 

[BuddaGuy]

Your problem may be that the brooder is too small and they can't get out from under the heat lamp to regulate their temperature. They need a warm side AND a cool side.

Do they need a larger container then, or can I modify the box for better airflow on the other side

 

[StinkyAcres]

Do they need a larger container then, or can I modify the box for better airflow on the other side

I would recommend a larger container if you can get one.

 

[BuddaGuy]

I would recommend a larger container if you can get one.

If I got a brooder heater plate instead of changing the box, would that be better? I’ve seen that they maybe contain heat better than the heat lamp does. I could just get a bigger box two just wondering which option you think is best.

 

[BuddaGuy]

Ok, those look closer to 2wks than a week, which means the heat lamp placement should be fine either way. The first one may have died from stress/weakness incurred during shipping to TSC, and the same goes for the second (so sorry for your loss btw!). Any chance you have NutriChick or Poultry drench on hand that you can give them to help give

them an extra boost?

Thanks for the sympathies, as well. I feel bad about this and wanna do what I can to stop it.