Dying Chiks!! HELP!!

[SalFarm]

We received our Cornish Rock chicks about 2 weeks ago. This is our third time raising them. We have done nothing different. Same brooder, bedding, feed, water, lamp. We have had one chick die ever day or two. They all seem to be healthy and growing, then we will check on them and one has passed. We are feeding them medicated chick starter and putting chick vitamins in their water. Any ideas on what may be going wrong? And how I can stop it? And advise on if they would be ok to eat? I contacted the hatchery and they were no assistance. Thanks for any help.

 

[eviemethugh]

How many do you have? They are prone to piling around the 2-4 week stage and then seem to get over it. They smother one in the bottom of their pile and then move on. You can divide them in half if you have more than 50. Or makes few small branch perches for them. Or add another heat lamp. But your problem could be something else. are you giving them any supplements in their water? We love mcmurrays broiler booster.

 

[SalFarm]

Thank you for the advise. We only have 10, started with 15. So separating them isn't really an option. We have been using the chick vitamins (I can't remember the name) in their water from Mcmurray. Sadly, wehaven't had a good experience this time with our babies.

 

[ejcrist]

I managed to bring 27 of 30 to five weeks this Friday. This is my first flock of broilers. I believe the three I lost was due to organ (heart) failure but I'm certainly no bird veterinarian so I can't say for sure. Mine died in the first two weeks. The instructions I read said to feed them around the clock for the first two weeks and then 12 on/12 off after that. I also used the Broiler Booster in the beginning. My wife used to raise broilers overseas and she said I was feeding them too much and should just feed them once in the morning and once in the late afternoon. My Niece is currently raising Cornish Crosses and that's what she has hers on, and she hasn't lost a one. So I switched to her recommended feeding schedule and I haven't lost one since. Just my take but I think it's a careful balancing act to feed Cornish Crosses the right amount so as not to cause problems, but of course you want to feed them the amount required so they gain weight. My experience has been that they're a hard bird to raise and require close management. For my next batch I'm going to go easy on the feed and stay away from Broiler Booster after the first day or so. I'm thinking since they have a 2:1 feed conversion and are advertised to put on about a pound a week I'll measure the feed so it comes out to 2 pounds per bird per week, or 0.15 pounds per bird once in the AM and again in the PM. That's about what I've been feeding them since I cut back and like I said, no problems thus far.