Chicks are getting too cold!

[Laci7210]

I have 30 new baby chicks that just came in the mail yesterday and 3 ducklings that I got from tractor supply. They are in my storage shed, in separate brooders (ducks in one, chicks in other) and share a heat lamp. It was 35ish outside last night, and I lost a chick! Tonight will be 25, tomorrow 35 degrees! I thought it would be 70's at this time of year! The ducks are farther from the heat lamp than the chicks but don't act as cold either. I don't want them being cold but the shed is too far away from the house to have another heat lamp. The chicks are in 2 feet by 2 feet wooden box with wire for the roof. I have another cage for them but I left all 30 together so they would stay warm. The ducks are in a kiddie pool and I put wire around the sides. It is about 45 degrees in their shed I'd you aren't right beside the heat lamp!

 

[danahud]

http://applewoodfarm.wordpress.com/page/4/

Attached is the link to applewood farm blog. She used tea light candles and terra cotta pots to create a sort of heater in her greenhouses. Check it out and see if this could work for you. Good Luck with your babies.

 

[danahud]

The post you would be looking for is from November 17th.

 

[Laci7210]

Thank you! That is very helpful! It has warmed up a lot and now it is 80 degrees in the shed! I raised the heat lamp a little and I will lower it again if they are huddling. Another one died just now, so I think that it is something else that is killing them.. they just lay down and kinds sit there then over time roll over and give up.. this has happened to 4 of my chicks already! Any ideas on what's wrong with them??

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

What has been their feed and water consumption in the last 24 hours? You gave the temp in the shed - but what is the temp inside the actual brooder? Am I reading it right that you have all 30 chicks in a 2x2 area?

 

[Laci7210]

As far as I know, they have been eating and drinking. I will find out the temp in brooder. I put the 30 together so they would be warmer and I planned to move half out once they got started, like in the next day or 2 when it is warmer. I thought that might give them a better chance at survival...

 

[Eggcessive]

You should have a thermometer on the floor of the brooder. It needs to be around 90 degrees the first week, and then go down 5 degrees a week. I wouldn't be able to keep my temps up like that in a shed outside. I usually brood mine in the house for a couple of weeks, then put them out. Do you have a 250 watt red heat lamp? Those chicks are going to need a much much bigger brooder in about 2 weeks. Can you bring them inside for a week or two. I would be offering them electrolyte water for a day or two, until you stop losing them.

 

[Laci7210]

Ok it is 90 in the brooder and everybody is walking around and eating except for the sick ones. My dad has electrolytes for calves. Will that work? And how much? His are in little packets. My heat lamp is 250 watt and red bulb. I have a separate brooder that is a wire rabbit cage, off the ground, and I can put some in there, they will be farther from the heat lamp tho. It is 3.5 feet by 2 feet..

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Maybe they are sick? I don't have a lot of experience with dying chicks. We got our first chicks in Feb and also kept them inside. It was easy to keep an eye on them and even if their lamp went out- the air temp was always 68. At 4 weeks they were off their lamp and slowly spent more time outside, so they could adapt to real weather.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

Also, I don't think you have near enough room for the amount of chicks you have...