Dead chicks :(

[lissalicious]

We picked up 2 chicks last night to add to our already existing hens. We put them in their own little place with their heating lamp and food and water. Nothing different than what we did when our hens were chicks. We woke up to one dead chick and the other just died. I have no idea what went wrong. I guess they just weren't healthy. A few hours after we brought them home they started showing signs that something was wrong. They wouldn't stand up anymore, they wouldn't put any weight on their feet at all. They would just fall over. It was very bizarre. Any ideas what happened?

 

[lissalicious]

I forgot to say. We have a bpr and buff orpingtons. The chicks were different. One was a black silkie and the other was a red frizzle.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

How old were the chicks? Did you pick them up from a private source or a retail source? Were there other birds present when you picked them up and, if so, what was the condition of those birds?

 

[lissalicious]

I picked them up from a hatchery here in Utah. There were other chicks there and they all were acting like normal chicks. Peeping and running around. They had a few older birds there and they all seemed totally fine.

 

[jennychick45]

Sometimes you may get some chicks that are just plain unhealthy or were born with something wrong with them. I am so sorry for your loss.
Also if one chicks gets a disease it is likely it will spread.

 

[lissalicious]

I'm wondering if maybe my heat lamp isn't keeping the. Warm enough. From what I've been reading about frizzles and silkies is they are very prone to dying from the cold as chicks. They aren't as cold hardy as the other types of chickens I have.

 

[Nupe]

I'm very sorry for your loss. You say you did nothing different then last time with your hens but what about the outside conditions? Is there brooder in the house, garage or an outbuilding. It's warmer this time of year and you have to adjust the lamp height accordingly. Also, did you point out the food and water to each chick? With several chicks in one brooder, the likelihood of a chick stumbling over the food and water are good and the other chicks will see it and instinctively check it out. But with only two chicks, they may not have felt confident enough to explore their surroundings to find it. I'm not trying to accuse you of anything, just shooting in the dark so maybe you can figure out what happened.