Dying Chicks... now 3 (no 6) are dead. Whats going on?

[rainnotebook]

And now we're losing the fifth one. Is it normal for 5 out of 15 chickens to die? Is that a normal percent?

 

[Break an Egg]

Do you have a thermometer telling you the temp. If they are no where near the lamp, it may be too hot, have you also dipped their beaks in the water. Sometimes they need you to show them where the water is. Sorry to hear about your loss.

 

[rainnotebook]

I don't have a thermometer but when they first started dying I didn't have a lamp in there.... I'll try a thermometer. The strong ones are running around and eating and drinking. The one who is dying I keep going in and giving it water and feed. But its just getting weaker and weaker.

 

[Break an Egg]

Quote:
How old are they? Less than one week olds need to be kept at atleast 85 degrees. Some say 95 degrees, mind you there is more humidity where I live.

 

[rainnotebook]

Okay now I'm down 6. what! I'm SO upset. The temperature is perfect and I still keep losing them. I am down 3 silkies and 3 brahmas. I do not get what is going on. They are running around fine... then they turn around and die on me. This last one was doing great 2 hours ago. In fact one that I thought was a weakling is still alive... which makes me think there is going to be 7 before the night is through. I'm so sick to my stomach that I'm losing them. My heart is breaking.

 

[rainnotebook]

Quote:
They shipped from Ideal Poultry on Tuesday... I guess they are around 4-5 days old

 

[LittleMamaBigPapa]

What are you feedimg them and from where? Is it chick feed and was it in a plastic bag or paper? I am wondering if there is something wrong with the feed such as old or perhaps it had gotten wet? Trying to brain storm here! I dont know but it doesnt sound like a normal occurance at all......let's get our heads together people!

 

[NattiFan]

Do you have a heat lamp or two in there? I started with 7 about 2 and a hald weeks ago. I lost one...and I actually seen it coming. It was the weekest, and most unactive....so a death, from what I have read, is not uncommon. From what I've read hear, make sure you have a heat lamp and a thermometer. It's gotta be warm in that brooder under the light. Sorry for your losses...and I wish you the best of luck.

 

[underground chickenman]

Where did you get the straw? The bedding may be the culprit. Straw or hay can be dusty and moldy, or it can grow mold quickly if it gets damp. Plus, it is hard for chicks that young to walk on. I would get a large clean rubbermaid or similar plastic bin, lay several layers of papers towels down on the bottom and transfer the chicks over to it. Clean and disinfect your drinker and feeder. Put about 3 tablespoons of sugar per quart of water in the drinker and give them nothing to eat but a good brand of starter crumbles. I like Purina Start n Grow, but there are others. Put the lamp on them and make sure at least half the brooder is holding a steady 90 degrees. Use a thermometer. I know a lot of people say just watch them, but it doesn't sound like you have enough experience. Just get a thermometer and put it under the light. Make sure they can travel easily in and out of the range of the lamp. In other words, arrange their drinker and feeder so they don't prevent the chicks from moving freely around the brooder.

Basically....start over from scratch as if they arrived today. I think you've either got something going in the brooder where they are now (I suspect the straw) or they have been chilled too long.

Only use the sugar water for a day or two. Change the paper towels several times per day. After three or four days, you can remove the paper towels put them on clean pine shavings. Reduce the temperature by 5 degrees per week until they are about 6 weeks old. Keep them out of a draft. If they are in the house, make sure they are not in the path of an air conditioner vent or fan.


Good luck and let us know what happens.

UGCM

 

[rainnotebook]

I was first feeding them feed that my mother in law gave me. Just "start n grow" that she got out of the local feed store. I have one lamp on them and the temperature is perfect. Nice and warm without being hot. I can see about an hour before they die them change and lose strength. I hand feed them and make sure they get water and they are still dying. I got some standard size chicks and they are all fine. Its the small silkies and brahams that are dying.

I put the last 4 with the std chicks because they were strong but since I lost the last one I separated them again. There is one other one that I'm sure will die because he is the "runt" or weakling of the the 3 left.

I'm so heart broken... I know Ideal Poultry is a great company... could it be something that may have happened it shipping???