Chicks dying off...advice anyone?

[California Ducken]

Do you have extra vitamins in the water?

How do their crops feel?

Do they huddle and sleep under the heat lamp or stay at the edges of the light?
Have you given them poly vi sol? (baby vitamins NO iron)

How many chicks total do you have together now in the brooder?

12 total? Or 11 plus the ? you had in the original brooder?

What size is the brooder? 3 feet x 3 feet?

PLEASE Get any kid of thermometer it's crucial to their life.

The first week between 96 - 98 degrees and decrease the temp 5 degrees every week after. Always have an area for them to get away from the heat. Especially since you need to keep the brooder warmer for the younger chicks.
I would get electrolytes and vitamins in the water.
You can also give them boiled egg.
How are the chickies doing now?
Good Luck and keep us posted.

 

[ruth]

Is there a lid on the "tupperware" box and is there a heat lamp? Are they inside or out and what is the temp? I'm guessing they are getting too warm.

I never use a thermometer in the brooder - I just watch them. If they are running around and eating and drinking I know they are comfortable. If they are under the light I know they are cold and if they are as far from the light as possible, or panting, I know they are hot.

In the summertime, mine go from the incubator to a Chick-N-Hutch outside, often with older chicks. I will use a lamp with regular light bulb, especially at night but often turn it out during the day because outside temps are near 100 and I find if I turn on the lamp, they get to the far end of the pen. At about a week or two old they go into a cage in the coop with no lights and at three weeks old I open the cage and they start freeranging our farm with the other 200 assorted ages, sizes, and breeds of chickens, not to mention ducks and peacocks. I have NEVER had any of the others bother the babies.

Fresh air is very important for their health. A plastic bin, especially with a top, and a heat lamp can get too warm. I use them (without tops) only in the winter time, inside, in a bathroom that never gets warm, always cold (it's a 100 year old home) and that bathroom will heat up in no time with just that heat lamp and the chicks often get too warm.

Again, just my guess. I'm sorry you are losing some.