Don't know what to do about these chicks

[weaversfarm]

I have 37 chicks that are 6 days old. We have the brooder set up in a room with no heat other than the heat lamp for them. Our outside temps are at 10 during the day and below zero at night. I lost one chick yesterday, breathing was labored. I brought her in and gave her some warm electrolyte water and put her on a heating pad with a dry washcloth between her and the heating pad. She died about a half hour later. Today I went out to feed and water and discovered another chick with one of it's eyes matted shut. We moved the brooder in the canning room of our house so with the heat lamp they are warmer now. They are not huddled around the heat lamp, but are piled together in a corner. I put the thermometer in the corner and it said it was 68 degrees. Why aren't they huddling under the heat lamp? I checked the temp under the lamp and it was 94. I started them on Terramyacin today, 1 Tblsp. per gallon of water. Is that too much for them being so young? I didn't think to ask the lady at Durvet today. I have brooded lots of chicks, but never had the problems I am having with this batch. They are in a 4 X 4 foot brooder. Also, can I use an antibiotic ointment in the one chicks eye? I did wash it with warm water, but didn't know if I could put some Neopolybac Opthamalic Ointment in it. Also, should I stop or decrease the amount of terramycin in their water? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[JerseyGiantfolk]

You should keep 2 thermometers out of the heat lamp, and 2 under the heat lamp to get a good idea what the temperature is, just in case one of the thermometers is off. When they are huddled in a corner they are too hot. They should be spread out around the brooder.

If they are all piling and squishing each other, it could result in some internal injuries..

 

[myduckistink]

For the eye, I would just attempt to keep it clean. When this happened to one of my chicks, I dabbed the eye with a warm, damp cloth and gave it CLEAN honey water. I don't know about the terramycin, but I hope all turns out well!

 

[weaversfarm]

I initially posted this 2 days ago and haven't been able to get on because either we didn't have electric or my internet sattelite dish was covered in snow and couldn't get online. Our electric has gone out 3 days out of the last 5 and this morning it was off for more than 6 hours with the outside temps here being below zero. Our temp in the house got down to 48 degrees F. The chicks temp keeps going up and down with the electric going out. One little chick still has a watery eye and I am still giving them Tetracycline but not sure how long I can give it. With the change in temps when the electric goes out, I don't want them getting sick. Husband and I have decided to put wood heat in the house next year and buy a generator!

 

[weaversfarm]

This little chick is getting better, she will open her eye now. I am putting antibiotic eye ointment in it 2 X a day. Now the problem seems to be the other chicks are pecking her eye. She was in a crate from this morning until late this afternoon before I put her in with them. There was no ointment on or around her eye when I put her in with the others. I watched them walk right up to her, peck her in the eye and walk away. After 3 of them did that she closed her eye up so I again pulled her out and put her in a crate. Why are they doing that? Will they stop pecking at her eye? This is the only one they are doing this to. They have all been together since they hatched. How long should I wait until I try to re-introduce her?