Chicks dying

[Eggcessive]

So sorry for all of the losses. I do hope that you will not lose any more chicks. I really think that the main problem probably stems from getting them in such a cold time of the year, especially coming from a long way, and then the sub zero temperatures last week. They had to have been in transit for at least two days or more. Stressed chicks tend to have pasty butt and may have suffered chilling even in such a large shipment. Personally, I would wait until March to order chicks, and get them from a closer source. I get mine overnight from Meyer hatchery in Ohio, and they supply a lot of the chickens sold by MyPetChicken. Even at that, I will dip beaks in SaveAChick electrolytes or NutriDrench, and show them the feed crumbles as well as the water a couple of times. I like to have them in my house where I can control the temperatures for 2 weeks, and watch for problems. Even will doing that, if there was a bad hatch, it is still possible to lose some. Hopefully, they will start getting stronger.

 

[cmom]

I would move the light up a little. I think they may be getting too hot under the light especially if it's a 250 watt heat lamp.

 

[cmom]

 

[21hens-incharge]

I have found some chicks cannot eat the crumble in the size that came in the bag.
For that reason I crush the crumble for the first week for all the chicks.

I agree they still look to warm.

 

[cmom]

Wow nice! Yes too cold for them outside.

I had a late hatch. I did that hatch in July. It was to show a way to brood the chicks. At night I do have posts and I put an old sheet over the box to help hold the heat in during the cooler part of the year when I usually hatch out chicks. I'm getting ready to incubate some eggs now.

 

[cmom]

I have found some chicks cannot eat the crumble in the size that came in the bag.
For that reason I crush the crumble for the first week for all the chicks.

I agree they still look to warm.

I have done that for the bantams. I don't have bantams but have hatched some out for friends. I put the crumbles in a blender and pulse them.

 

[cmom]

Sometimes I have made up a gallon of the Save-A-Chick and moistened some crumbles for the chicks.

 

[cmom]

 

[SixNolans]

So sorry for all of the losses. I do hope that you will not lose any more chicks. I really think that the main problem probably stems from getting them in such a cold time of the year, especially coming from a long way, and then the sub zero temperatures last week. They had to have been in transit for at least two days or more. Stressed chicks tend to have pasty butt and may have suffered chilling even in such a large shipment. Personally, I would wait until March to order chicks, and get them from a closer source. I get mine overnight from Meyer hatchery in Ohio, and they supply a lot of the chickens sold by MyPetChicken. Even at that, I will dip beaks in SaveAChick electrolytes or NutriDrench, and show them the feed crumbles as well as the water a couple of times. I like to have them in my house where I can control the temperatures for 2 weeks, and watch for problems. Even will doing that, if there was a bad hatch, it is still possible to lose some. Hopefully, they will start getting stronger.

Yes last year we got them later in the year and did fine. We always dip their beaks I. The electrolyte water when we transfer them in the brooder. Most seem lively. But again this morning found one that died. Hoping no more and the rest throve