I got 75 Cornish chicks from Meyer last Wednesday. I put them in a 250 gallon water tank in my basement (I know, no meaties in the house) with 2 waterers and a large feeder. Thursday after work I checked them, 5 dead. No big deal, usually if any die, it's in the first day or so, but I usually never have more than one or two die. Friday after work, 5 more dead. Now I'm starting to get a bit concerned. Saturday morning, 1 more dead and another one not looking too good. They all seemed very week (the ones dieing), crouched down on their knocks. Even when I picked them up, they stay crouched down. At this point, I'm trying to figure out what I am doing wrong. I've never lost more than 1 or 2 of any type chicks I've ever bought or hatched. I had plenty of fresh water w/ electolytes and vitamans and the feeder full. The chicks were never at any time overcrowding either the waterer or feeder, so I am pretty sure they were all able to access both. Heat lamp was at one end, so they were able to move out from underneath if they were too hot. They weren't concentrated under the lamp or crowded together, so I know they weren't cold. It is a mystery.
After taking the 12th dead one out, I decided to call Meyer. I told them the situation, what I was doing, and stated I've order several times from them without incident. The CS lady was very nice. She said it sounds like I was doing everything right, and couldn't explain what was happening. She then offered to ship 12 replacement chicks Monday, refund my money for lost chicks, or give me store credit for the 12 lost chicks. I chose store credit, as I will be buying some processing equipment from them soon, and I didn't feel as if it was Meyer's fault for the dieing chicks. I figured it was the fairest solution to both of us.
I am very please with Meyer's resolution to this situation. They at no time faulted me. I will shop with them again due to the action they took.
Yesterday I moved the chicks out to the tractor. I have two heat lamps, two waterers, and two feeder in with them. As of early this morning, they all seemed okay. I'm still wondering why so many died. Like I said before, I have never expirienced this scenario. Luckily, at this point, I'm not out anything due to Meyer's taking responsibility for the losses.
The only thing I can think of that may have caused this is the ones that died weren't making the effort to get to the feed and/or water. The tractor is much larger, so if that was the problem, it should be resolved.
After taking the 12th dead one out, I decided to call Meyer. I told them the situation, what I was doing, and stated I've order several times from them without incident. The CS lady was very nice. She said it sounds like I was doing everything right, and couldn't explain what was happening. She then offered to ship 12 replacement chicks Monday, refund my money for lost chicks, or give me store credit for the 12 lost chicks. I chose store credit, as I will be buying some processing equipment from them soon, and I didn't feel as if it was Meyer's fault for the dieing chicks. I figured it was the fairest solution to both of us.
I am very please with Meyer's resolution to this situation. They at no time faulted me. I will shop with them again due to the action they took.
Yesterday I moved the chicks out to the tractor. I have two heat lamps, two waterers, and two feeder in with them. As of early this morning, they all seemed okay. I'm still wondering why so many died. Like I said before, I have never expirienced this scenario. Luckily, at this point, I'm not out anything due to Meyer's taking responsibility for the losses.
The only thing I can think of that may have caused this is the ones that died weren't making the effort to get to the feed and/or water. The tractor is much larger, so if that was the problem, it should be resolved.
