Freedom Ranges Dying

[bshpqr]

I got my FR from JM hatchery on Friday. 102 birds. All but 1 were good. He had 1 eye and was crossed beak.
I digress. I have lost 9 birds since Friday. It has been the coldest its been in a month this past weekend. We had a wicked cold front move thru on saturday with tepms in the 30's with 30 mph substained winds with gusts up to 60. REALLLY CRAPPY! Between the cold snap and almost losing power 3 times, it was a LOOOOOONG weekend. 102 new birds, and 15 turkeys in the incubator....... we were lucky. Everyone south and east of town 4000 people lost power for at least a part of Saturday, some are still without.

The cold might be a factor. I think they are getting trampled. It is always in the morning when I find them. I did notice this morning when I was removing the dead, that there were a couple(3-4) that did not look like they have grown at all. The others are already almost twice there size. I assume they might be next. I have two lights in there and I have it draft free low down, the top is open. They are on a nipple watering system( highly recommend ), I dont belive that is a problem. they got the hang of it quickly.

Its a bit warmer to today 60, with no wind. Hopefully the dying stops.

Any thoughts, suggestions would be great.

You can check out the set up at www.pqrfarm.com

Thanks

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

There are those on here more experienced than I but in my opinion, I think you have already indicated your two issues. If it seems they are being smothered at night due to pile ups, I would add another light. I would also add a standard waterer, just in case some are not getting the hang of it.

 

[rancher hicks]

Sorry no time to look through your entire photo album so couldnt' see you "setup". Brooder? But I suspect they are not sufficiently heated if the dead are found in the morning and you've only two lights for 100 chicks. Further if they are all in one brooder you may want to break them up into more brooders.

The outside temp means nothing if they are sufficiently being kept warm, fed and watered. Recheck the info on how many feeders and waterers per # of chicks. Believe it or not some chicks don't get to eat due to the pecking order even at this young age.

Hope things improve

Rancher

One other thing, if the power goes out I suggest using hot water filled jugs to keep them warm. Replace them as necessary.

 

[blueskylen]

I agree that they might be being smothered - i had 3 lights for 60 in an enclosed basement with no breezes. you may want to set up that additional waterer and feeder to make sure that they all have access to them - smaller ones tend to get beaten around in the rush for feed and hang back.

good Luck!

 

[bshpqr]

One other thing, if the power goes out I suggest using hot water filled jugs to keep them warm. Replace them as necessary.

Great idea, thanks.


I only did 50 last year, had 1 light, but did them in Aug.-Oct. Only one past.

I'll have to get another light tonight. My wife just text and said another on died. I asked if it was on e of the tiny ones, and it was.

There is plenty of access to food. As for water, I have 8 nipples avalible. Can any one tell me if they have problems offering two types of waterers.​

 

[HLAC]

Lower the two lamps that you do have.

I see in the pictures that they are piled directly underneath of them. That's a good indication that they are too cold.

I keep my lamp low enough that the birds do not sleep directly under them. They can go under them for a quick warm up but they sleep around the edges of the light.

I hope your losses stop soon!

 

[mike67909]

I looked at your videos.. it looks like the lights to high up.. I would lower them and add another. Since they are huddled directly under the light, I like to see them make a ring around the light not directly under it. That is likely the cause as others had suggested. It was windy here this weekend also and cold!

 

[lisa lisk]

This might sound crazy, but after loossing newly hatched chicks (for several years) that were kept outside. I moved mine in for the first 2 weeks.
When I kept them outside, any and everything that could go wrong did. I had lights, all of the things needed. but I would always loos some about 20 %.
So with my hubby growling I moved them in fore a couple of weeks. Even though I changed their papper every day they still smell terible. But they all lived.
Now I have a house with a basement. I put the newly hatched in an old wooden toy box on papper, with a light for 1 week. then I move them to a big box that I made out of old panaling I pile sawdust in that, at least 2 inches deep. I put the peeps in their when they are 1 week old. They do not stink on the sawdust. I have not lost 1 in 2 years.
do not put newly hatched peeps on sawdust wait until they are at least 1 week old.
Depending on the wether they can stay in the big box with the saw dust until they are featherd out.
I hatched mine last feb. I put them outside in april. Lisa

 

[bshpqr]

How low to go? A foot? I have straw down and always worry about fire.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Call them about it, i got my order on Fri and out of 51, 30 where dead and 3 died with in 24 hours, when I called he said that all the shipment to WI had problems maybe yours did too