Auvi
Chirping
I'm very sad, dishearted, and on/off in tears! Please, I'm hurting and in need of some advice. We are not new to chickens, just new to Silkies.
Yesterday (05/16/20), I drove to Portland, IN, and met a Silkie breeder. She stated she was part of the American Silkie Bantam Club and attends shows, etc. Anyways, I purchased 8 silkie chicks from her. We kept them warm in a small box, and when we got home we did the norm. The heating pad/plate was on and the temp was approx. 92/93F and the opposite end was much cooler. Food/water in the middle to the far side of the brooder box (2ft x 4ft).
My husband stayed home to set the brooder up. He turned on our Brinseas EgoGlow 600, spread the wood shavings (Greentree pine premium), the feeder with Manna Pro chick starter medicated, and the bottled spring water set up w/ probiotics/electrolytes. We dipped their beaks in water and introduced them to the feed. They took to it right away. We even made a bottle of magic water for them (as suggested). I would alternate their water daily (1st-day magic water w/ ACV, 2nd-day probiotic/electrolyte water, 3rd-day plain water).
We noticed 2 or 3 of the chicks were a lot smaller than the others. I thought it was strange because she said they about 1 week old. The smaller silks were quite wobbly on their feet and didn't move around as fast as the others. When they were eating the others would kind of like a head butt them and push them around.
We also noticed the bigger ones were trying to get on top of the smaller ones and squshing them, etc. This morning it seemed to be worse so we removed the little guy they kept picking on. Needless to say, he didn't make it
I notified the person I purchased them from. She said she gave me 1 week old and a few 24-hour old chicks. She asked how the others were and I told her they were doing good but another one seemed to be having the same issues.
She seemed to ignore anything I said about the bullying behaviors and asked what the temperature of the brooder was. I informed her approx. 93 degrees.
Her: That's to hot
ME: Everyone I know that has chickens and any place I read all stated hatch to 1 week - 95, 1 - 2 weeks - 90, 2 - 3 weeks - 85, etc.
Her: Not for silkie chicks is 5 degrees less at least.
They will get pasty butt
They were in a box that was 85 on one end and 75 on the other so they could go back and fourth
ME: The few that had a small amount I cleaned their bums
HER: That's a sign they are too hot
I linked her all the temp charts even from the silkie site and SHE SAID TO ME
Her: Ma'am those birds were never in a brooder with those high temps. I'm sorry you are loosing birds but you are literally cooking them.
How cruel of her to say something like that
Every place I read and anyone I know that has had chickens all said the same thing with the temperatures (see photo attached). So my husband decided to try a different thermometer.
ME: The temp gauge is still moving slowly - If I was cooking them they would all be behaviors like this. I'm not blaming you or stating anything about your chicks, I was just looking for your suggestions and advice, but please don't place blame on me. It would have been informative to know you kept them at 85 degrees instead of what every other system out there states what temp they should be at. I never saw where you kept the hatchlings or chicks. So I had no idea what kind of system you had them in. We kept them warm all the way home, put them in the brooder w/ the heat plate, chick starter feed, and water with probiotics and electrolytes.
She never replied back!! My sister is demanding we request a refund, and my husband is saying why to bother it's apparent she doesn't care at all.
We also had to separate the last 2 small silkies from the bigger ones. The bigger ones kept piling on top of the smaller ones and they were becoming weak as well. Now that they are separated, everything seems to be fine, but I'm still crying
We have literally tried everything, changing thermostats, cleaning the brooder, changing their food, keeping the water/food clean daily, and as needed, separating the weak in their own area.
That was 6 days ago ... Now my healthy chicks are DYING
We are now down to 3 chicks. Needless to say, after 1 chick dies ... within 24 - 48 hours another one takes its place and follows. I was told today to treat them for Coccidiosis. I'm not seeing any symptoms of Coccidiosis but will treat it to be on the safe side. I read a few articles "my baby chicks are dying" on the forums here as well. I drove to TSC and purchased a bottle of Corid, and was quickly able to find on the forum ratio that was needed.
I'm not sure what they lived in but you'd think she would have shared with me that she kept 1-day old chicks at 85 degrees which doesn't seem right. I lost a baby and I'm heartbroken. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart we did everything right - IF WE didn't please let us what we've done wrong (nicely).
Yesterday (05/16/20), I drove to Portland, IN, and met a Silkie breeder. She stated she was part of the American Silkie Bantam Club and attends shows, etc. Anyways, I purchased 8 silkie chicks from her. We kept them warm in a small box, and when we got home we did the norm. The heating pad/plate was on and the temp was approx. 92/93F and the opposite end was much cooler. Food/water in the middle to the far side of the brooder box (2ft x 4ft).
My husband stayed home to set the brooder up. He turned on our Brinseas EgoGlow 600, spread the wood shavings (Greentree pine premium), the feeder with Manna Pro chick starter medicated, and the bottled spring water set up w/ probiotics/electrolytes. We dipped their beaks in water and introduced them to the feed. They took to it right away. We even made a bottle of magic water for them (as suggested). I would alternate their water daily (1st-day magic water w/ ACV, 2nd-day probiotic/electrolyte water, 3rd-day plain water).
We noticed 2 or 3 of the chicks were a lot smaller than the others. I thought it was strange because she said they about 1 week old. The smaller silks were quite wobbly on their feet and didn't move around as fast as the others. When they were eating the others would kind of like a head butt them and push them around.
We also noticed the bigger ones were trying to get on top of the smaller ones and squshing them, etc. This morning it seemed to be worse so we removed the little guy they kept picking on. Needless to say, he didn't make it
I notified the person I purchased them from. She said she gave me 1 week old and a few 24-hour old chicks. She asked how the others were and I told her they were doing good but another one seemed to be having the same issues.
She seemed to ignore anything I said about the bullying behaviors and asked what the temperature of the brooder was. I informed her approx. 93 degrees.
Her: That's to hot
ME: Everyone I know that has chickens and any place I read all stated hatch to 1 week - 95, 1 - 2 weeks - 90, 2 - 3 weeks - 85, etc.
Her: Not for silkie chicks is 5 degrees less at least.
They will get pasty butt
They were in a box that was 85 on one end and 75 on the other so they could go back and fourth
ME: The few that had a small amount I cleaned their bums
HER: That's a sign they are too hot
I linked her all the temp charts even from the silkie site and SHE SAID TO ME
Her: Ma'am those birds were never in a brooder with those high temps. I'm sorry you are loosing birds but you are literally cooking them.
How cruel of her to say something like that
Every place I read and anyone I know that has had chickens all said the same thing with the temperatures (see photo attached). So my husband decided to try a different thermometer.ME: The temp gauge is still moving slowly - If I was cooking them they would all be behaviors like this. I'm not blaming you or stating anything about your chicks, I was just looking for your suggestions and advice, but please don't place blame on me. It would have been informative to know you kept them at 85 degrees instead of what every other system out there states what temp they should be at. I never saw where you kept the hatchlings or chicks. So I had no idea what kind of system you had them in. We kept them warm all the way home, put them in the brooder w/ the heat plate, chick starter feed, and water with probiotics and electrolytes.
She never replied back!! My sister is demanding we request a refund, and my husband is saying why to bother it's apparent she doesn't care at all.
We also had to separate the last 2 small silkies from the bigger ones. The bigger ones kept piling on top of the smaller ones and they were becoming weak as well. Now that they are separated, everything seems to be fine, but I'm still crying
We have literally tried everything, changing thermostats, cleaning the brooder, changing their food, keeping the water/food clean daily, and as needed, separating the weak in their own area.
That was 6 days ago ... Now my healthy chicks are DYING
We are now down to 3 chicks. Needless to say, after 1 chick dies ... within 24 - 48 hours another one takes its place and follows. I was told today to treat them for Coccidiosis. I'm not seeing any symptoms of Coccidiosis but will treat it to be on the safe side. I read a few articles "my baby chicks are dying" on the forums here as well. I drove to TSC and purchased a bottle of Corid, and was quickly able to find on the forum ratio that was needed.
I'm not sure what they lived in but you'd think she would have shared with me that she kept 1-day old chicks at 85 degrees which doesn't seem right. I lost a baby and I'm heartbroken. I truly believe from the bottom of my heart we did everything right - IF WE didn't please let us what we've done wrong (nicely).
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