Is it normal to loose chicks.
We have read everything and doing everything by the books but keep loosing babies. Our brooder boxes are made out of wood with the front chicken wire. We feed medicated chick starter. When they hatch and dry, we dip their beaks in room temp water that has a little sugar in it. We do not place any bedding in their until they are about a week old. We pour the food in a little pile close to the waterer. They have a heat lamp and plenty of room to get away from it.
After a week old their food is put in a feeder and their water includes a little AC Vinegar. They get some pine shavings.
We observe them close. Even when they all seem fine we will find one dead the next time down their. With the weather being warm I would not think one would get smothered in a huddle. The dead ones are alway out in the middle, not in a corner.
We started out using water from rain water collected. But when we kept loosing babies we switched to city water.
We usually hatch out around 35 a week. But after a month we have half of that.
Any ideas anyone???
Our breeds are mostly polish, cochins, and silkies. On occassion we will hatch some blue andalusians, barred rocks and white leghorns.
We have read everything and doing everything by the books but keep loosing babies. Our brooder boxes are made out of wood with the front chicken wire. We feed medicated chick starter. When they hatch and dry, we dip their beaks in room temp water that has a little sugar in it. We do not place any bedding in their until they are about a week old. We pour the food in a little pile close to the waterer. They have a heat lamp and plenty of room to get away from it.
After a week old their food is put in a feeder and their water includes a little AC Vinegar. They get some pine shavings.
We observe them close. Even when they all seem fine we will find one dead the next time down their. With the weather being warm I would not think one would get smothered in a huddle. The dead ones are alway out in the middle, not in a corner.
We started out using water from rain water collected. But when we kept loosing babies we switched to city water.
We usually hatch out around 35 a week. But after a month we have half of that.
Any ideas anyone???
Our breeds are mostly polish, cochins, and silkies. On occassion we will hatch some blue andalusians, barred rocks and white leghorns.
