Chicks from TSC

[cashdl]

My daughter brought home 2 barred rock chicks, 6 assorted bantam chicks and two ducks, my brother-in-law bought me 5 6 assorted chicks 1 is a bantam. All came from Tracter Supply Company. The bantam chick my brother-in-law brought me died the same night even though it looked good when it got home. Of the 6 bantam chicks my daughter brought me only one is left. All the others have died, not all at once, slowly over 3 days. The non bantam chicks and the ducks are all doing great. I have been keeping them in a tub with a light for heat and a digital thermometer to make sure it is staying warm enough.

Do bantam chicks take different care than standard chicks? Any thought would be appreciated.

Lanae

 

[ChickenMama18]

We had three bantams and they were no different from the older ones. I think that your situation is unique...maybe they got a bad batch? I'm sure they'd give you new ones...or a refund.

 

[lambchicks]

I am sorry, I lost a 3 day baby a couple of weeks ago. I can't imagine loosing as many as you have. I would definatly go and talk to the folks at TSC.

 

[poultryfan73]

I think you should go back to TS for a refund.

 

[WoodlandWoman]

That is heart breaking. I'm so sorry.

The only thing I can think of that is different with bantams, is that they need a smaller size of food than larger chicks. I've heard of a few people needing to grind their chick starter up, to make it small enough for the bantams to eat, until they grow a little larger. Foods really vary by manufacturer and region. I think there's a difference in size, in some chick starters or some people wouldn't have had a problem with their bantam chicks. Some breeds of bantams might have smaller chicks than others, too.

What people had noticed is that the tiny chicks were trying to eat, picking up pieces of food, but dropping them, instead of eating them. Once they ground the food into a smaller size, the chicks ate it right away. Did you see these chicks eating and actually swallowing the food?

Other than that, it would be hard to say what the problem was. With TSC chicks, who knows. They don't take very good care of their chicks, compared to how people do on the forum. If they had a hard trip or the brooder was over crowded and they had trouble getting to the food and water, they would have been in a more weakened condition when you got them. It's really hard to say. I'd tell TSC about it.

 

[cashdl]

I will go to TSC. I don't know if they will give me replacement chicks or not, I didn't keep the dead ones to show them. EWWWW. I don't even have receipts because I didn't buy them. I will ask though. I will try grinding up the food from now on though. That makes sense.