Chicks dead after thunderstorm

[Maggizzle35]

Quote:
Yea, I'm thinking maybe they got spooked with the weather and piled up in the corner and some got crushed to death. sorry

We lived in Abilene about 22 years ago. Now it's Alaska. Talk about a big change.

 

[KathyK]

It was only about 65 degrees that night. Now it's in the 70's at night. The thunderstorm struck after it got dark. The rest of the chicks were pretty dry in the morning. Not completely dry, as the wind was also blowing. The tarp that covers the tractor blows around and flaps a lot in the wind, so I would think that noise would aclimate them somewhat to thunder.
Someone suggested that fragile and young birds of any species can die from thunder like what happened earlier this year in Arkansas:
http://abcnews.go.com/US/killed-thousands-black-birds-hundreds-thousands-drum-fish/story?id=12529390
I guess I will just hope they can deal with it if it happens again. Thanks for all of your suggestions.

 

[welasharon]

Can you put a tarp over the whole thing when bad weather is coming? At least till they get older? I secure my tarps with zip ties and they don't flap around.
sharon

 

[KathyK]

They are 5 weeks old. The existing tarp covers 2/3 of the tractor. Plus we get horrid winds here.

 

[Landonhdhrhfhdhdhfhh]

If there was thunder, they might have had a heart attack

 

[NorthwoodsChick]

If there was thunder, they might have had a heart attack

Good thought that may help some else out- the thread is very old.
Welcome to BYC!!

 

[McChooky]

If the covered portion of the chicken tractor was parked in a low spot the pouring rain may have flooded that spot forcing the chicks to higher ground (uncovered section)Adding roosts in the covered portion keeps them dry off the ground.