- Sep 26, 2010
- 104
- 4
- 101
It's been a terribly cold spring 'round here, thank goodness I have a really good brooder for my chicks. It's one of those fancy brooders with thermostat control and 'windows' that I can open and close for more ventilation.
I hatched out 18 eggs from my flock of Sussex cross on Apr 5th, but now I'm noticing all sorts of problems with them. They started out all healthy, if a little bit quiet. Over the last few days they are not growing and their feet are becoming deformed. Over half of them have twisted toes now. I'm not certain what to do.
I don't know if it is temperature. I check the chicks every few hours at least, and they very seldom tell me that the temp is wrong (crowded together or hugging the edges). I've been slowly reducing the temp, but in the last two days, they have acted like they are cold, so I kept the temp the same.
They have no vaccinations and eat regular, non-medicated chick food. They only treats they get is an occasional dandelion leaf or flower, but that's more for play than for food. It is unlikely there is cross-contamination with any other animals on the farm as I see to the chicks first, before interacting with any other animals.
I'm wondering if this is a vitamin deficiency. The only thing that is different from other chicks I've raised, is that these chicks have not had a chance to go outside yet and only get an hour of sunlight each morning. Usually the weather is warm enough that they can spend a few hours a day outside.
What do you wonderful chicken lovers think could be causing deformed feet and sudden retardation of growth in beautiful baby chicks? What should I do to make them healthy?
I hatched out 18 eggs from my flock of Sussex cross on Apr 5th, but now I'm noticing all sorts of problems with them. They started out all healthy, if a little bit quiet. Over the last few days they are not growing and their feet are becoming deformed. Over half of them have twisted toes now. I'm not certain what to do.
I don't know if it is temperature. I check the chicks every few hours at least, and they very seldom tell me that the temp is wrong (crowded together or hugging the edges). I've been slowly reducing the temp, but in the last two days, they have acted like they are cold, so I kept the temp the same.
They have no vaccinations and eat regular, non-medicated chick food. They only treats they get is an occasional dandelion leaf or flower, but that's more for play than for food. It is unlikely there is cross-contamination with any other animals on the farm as I see to the chicks first, before interacting with any other animals.
I'm wondering if this is a vitamin deficiency. The only thing that is different from other chicks I've raised, is that these chicks have not had a chance to go outside yet and only get an hour of sunlight each morning. Usually the weather is warm enough that they can spend a few hours a day outside.
What do you wonderful chicken lovers think could be causing deformed feet and sudden retardation of growth in beautiful baby chicks? What should I do to make them healthy?
