Chicks dead after thunderstorm

[KathyK]

I had 4 out of 24 dead the morning after a thunderstorm. Weird. They all were in the same corner of the tractor, out from under the tarp. We only got 1/2 inch of rain, so they didn't drown in standing water. This happened about a week ago when they were about 4-5 weeks old. Any ideas? We are expecting more thunderstorms this week and I don't want to lose any more if there is something I can do.

 

[hotshoe]

sorry for your loss

 

[Knock Kneed Hen]

Wow, never heard of that. How cold was it outside?

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

they were outside not under the tarp when it turned dark, they can't see to get back under it once it's dark. there was a thunder storm, they got wet/chilled & died. Not sure what the question is???

 

[theoldchick]

Young chickens can drown in the rain if they don't tuck their heads under their wings. Silly things breathe the water. And, at that age getting wet and cold is deadly to them. So sorry you lost them.

 

[Mac in Wisco]

Could they have piled up in the storm?

 

[jktrahan]

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

 

[chicmom]

Oh, we've got really wet, windy weather right now in Ohio too. I had my month old chicks in an A-frame coop, and I moved them to the small storage room in my hen house because they just needed more shelter where they could move around all day. The a-frame has a coop that's really just for sleeping, and then they would be outside all day.....I worried about them getting wet and cold too.

So if you can move them into the garage or a shed or something until this yucky weather improves, that would probably be better.....Or lock them into the coop at night, so they can't be out in the run.....

My problem was, I'm out of town at work during the days, and I wouldn't be home to put them into the coop if it started to storm.....It's a pain in the neck anyhow, trying to catch 14 chicks if they don't want to be put inside.....ARG

Hope you can work something out, that is convenient to you and safer for your little chickies,

Take care,
Sharon

 

[Maggizzle35]

Her question was if there is anything she can do to keep them from piling up in a storm. A friend of mine told me that her dad use to raise chickens and turkeys and during thunderstorms they would have to go out and sing to them to keep them from piling up and suffocating like that. I would imagine the small and weaker ones end up on the bottom, if there is a way to get them more use to loud noises or something that may help. Maybe bang on a garbage can and see what they do and keep doing it until they are use to the loud noise. I keep a radio going for my little ones but I've never had any of my big hens have a problem. Good luck.

 

[Maggizzle35]

Wow you are really lucky to be able to put them out side so early. We let ours out during the day and these are my big crew and put them back in at night. We still have ice and snow on the ground and won't be able to introduce any of the younger ones to the outside coop for at least another month. Life in Alaska makes some things a bit more challenging. We are more likely to get snow than a thunder storm.