dead chick on second morning

[zenstarling]

hi there, first time raising chicks here and we love them so much! they arrived here in CT from Ideal in TX on Wednesday morning, in under 48 hours. all have been doing really well, or so I can tell!

they are in a plastic tote brooder under a heat plate, on paper towels, in a downstairs bathroom.

yesterday evening just before they were going to bed, I noticed one of our BAs was staying under the plate while the others were very very busy and active out eating and drinking. she was also standing a little “off,” new to this so I’m not sure how to describe it, almost like in a squat position while the others were upright and zipping around. but I had seen her eating and drinking and had been active with the others all day. there was no loud peeping or any noticeable distress so I let them go to bed.

this morning the others were zipping around having their breakfast, and I noticed there were all but one. found her dead under the heat plate.

does anyone know what this could be? is this a shipping stress death, or something that could impact the others?

I knew to expect losses but didn’t expect to feel so upset by it, wondering if I could have done something.

thanks

 

[Kiki]

Which exact heat plate are you using?
Have you been able to measure how hot it is under it with a thermometer?

 

[Meyer_Hatchery]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost a chick.

The heat plates work a bit differently than the heat lamps. The plate needs to be set low enough so that all of the chicks can actually touch it by pressing up against it with their backs like they would snuggle under a mother hen if they had one. The plate warms by conductive heat, unlike the lamp bulbs that warms with radiant heat like the sun.

The chick that died maybe just one of those that we never really know for sure what happens. After 2 days in the brooder and the rest of the chicks acting good, it's probably no longer from shipping. With proper care immediately at arrival, they recover pretty quickly (within hours) from being shipped.

 

[DobieLover]

does anyone know what this could be?

More than likely failure to thrive. Combined with the stress from shipping, the chick will usually succumb within 72 hours of arrival.
It is very sad to see a chick die.

 

[SilverBirds]

Chicks can die for different reasons. Maybe the heat plate isn't hot enough. Do you know the temp of it? Did you check for pasty butt? Some simply aren't strong enough to make it. Sorry for your loss.

 

[zenstarling]

Which exact heat plate are you using?
Have you been able to measure how hot it is under it with a thermometer?

it’s Rent a Coop. I haven’t taken the temperature underneath. the instructions that came with it said to go by the chicks’ behavior. they’ve been super content when they’re under there, dozing and napping sporadically during the day and sleeping all night. it’s low enough that they can touch their backs to it. I can see them through the brooder bin when they’re under it and they look content closing their eyes. no distress peeps at all. otherwise they are active all around the brooder eating and drinking and exploring.

 

[zenstarling]

Chicks can die for different reasons. Maybe the heat plate isn't hot enough. Do you know the temp of it? Did you check for pasty butt? Some simply aren't strong enough to make it. Sorry for your loss.

thank you. no pasty butt so far. from how they’re behaving it seems like they’re warm.

 

[zenstarling]

More than likely failure to thrive. Combined with the stress from shipping, the chick will usually succumb within 72 hours of arrival.
It is very sad to see a chick die.

thank you, it is sad! especially first time. I know to expect it but still! I think I’m more upset than my kids…

 

[DobieLover]

it’s Rent a Coop. I haven’t taken the temperature underneath. the instructions that came with it said to go by the chicks’ behavior. they’ve been super content when they’re under there, dozing and napping sporadically during the day and sleeping all night. it’s low enough that they can touch their backs to it. I can see them through the brooder bin when they’re under it and they look content closing their eyes. no distress peeps at all. otherwise they are active all around the brooder eating and drinking and exploring.

It is because of the behavior of the rest of the brood that I do not think the plate had a thing to do with the loss of the chicks.

 

[zenstarling]

I'm sorry to hear that you lost a chick.

The heat plates work a bit differently than the heat lamps. The plate needs to be set low enough so that all of the chicks can actually touch it by pressing up against it with their backs like they would snuggle under a mother hen if they had one. The plate warms by conductive heat, unlike the lamp bulbs that warms with radiant heat like the sun.

The chick that died maybe just one of those that we never really know for sure what happens. After 2 days in the brooder and the rest of the chicks acting good, it's probably no longer from shipping. With proper care immediately at arrival, they recover pretty quickly (within hours) from being shipped.

thank you. they can definitely touch the plate with their backs. they are content beneath the plate and energetic around the brooder otherwise.