Chicks dying suspiciously!

[cmom]

Wow... that’s some amazing setup you’ve got!!

Many years ago I started with one coop. Over the years I got interested in raising some pure (heritage) birds. I hatch out my own chicks every year and grow them out. It's been a lot of work but it's a labor of love. I love my birds. I raise them to show at poultry shows.

 

[ambidextrous]

Many years ago I started with one coop. Over the years I got interested in raising some pure (heritage) birds. I hatch out my own chicks every year and grow them out. It's been a lot of work but it's a labor of love. I love my birds. I raise them to show at poultry shows.

I guess you are a pet lover like me... my wife is not really into pets and she is always nagging over the time that I spend with the chickens and other pets!!! Anyways thanks a lot for your generous responses. I might require your expert opinion in the future as well.

 

[cmom]

I'm far from an expert. Everyone is different as well as their situations. I do what works best for me. I had my first flock around 50 years ago. It's been trial and error. Somethings have worked out and other things not so well. My husband isn't crazy about the birds. He has helped me on the coops over the years but other than that it was me, myself and I that care for the birds. I put all of the fencing up myself which wasn't an easy task among other things. I put up 5' fencing and I'm 5' tall. I do staggered hatches every year. I have used broody's in the past but mostly an incubator. I started out with styrofoam incubators that I still use as hatchers. I'm always willing to put my 2¢ in. Have you figured out why your chicks have been dying, predator? Good luck...

 

[roosterhavoc]

Are you sure it’s not the hen pecking them to death?

 

[cmom]

It is a possibility. One picture is worth a thousand words.

 

[ambidextrous]

Are you sure it’s not the hen pecking them to death?

I really don’t know. They are fine until a couple of days and when there is another couple hatches... the senior one would die in this manner. I couldn’t figure it out yet that why I’m rescuing and putting them in the brooder.

 

[ambidextrous]

I'm far from an expert. Everyone is different as well as their situations. I do what works best for me. I had my first flock around 50 years ago. It's been trial and error. Somethings have worked out and other things not so well. My husband isn't crazy about the birds. He has helped me on the coops over the years but other than that it was me, myself and I that care for the birds. I put all of the fencing up myself which wasn't an easy task among other things. I put up 5' fencing and I'm 5' tall. I do staggered hatches every year. I have used broody's in the past but mostly an incubator. I started out with styrofoam incubators that I still use as hatchers. I'm always willing to put my 2¢ in. Have you figured out why your chicks have been dying, predator? Good luck...View attachment 2324741
View attachment 2324746

Wow... your setup amazed me!! You made those incubators yourself??? Can’t imagine. I couldnt be successful with even a single hatch in the automatic incubator and you are cruising through home made ones!! Hats off.

 

[ambidextrous]

@cmom btw... how many days the chicks need to be in the brooder before I take them out in the backyard?

 

[roosterhavoc]

I really don’t know. They are fine until a couple of days and when there is another couple hatches... the senior one would die in this manner. I couldn’t figure it out yet that why I’m rescuing and putting them in the brooder.

I’d bet it’s the hen. Especially because she was sitting on so many eggs with staggered hatching. In the future I’d limit the amount of eggs to a dozen or less and don’t let other hens lay eggs in a nest once a hen starts acting broody. It’s a recipe for disaster.

 

[ambidextrous]

I’d bet it’s the hen. Especially because she was sitting on so many eggs with staggered hatching. In the future I’d limit the amount of eggs to a dozen or less and don’t let other hens lay eggs in a nest once a hen starts acting broody. It’s a recipe for disaster.

You could be right. I might do the same for next brooder hen... limit the number of eggs. That’s the best way to do it. Poor broody she hatched almost 27 till date and still I see she has quite a number beneath her.