Happening again. Lost first chick

[Kater_tot]

Video of now passed chick and pics of brooder
https://www.facebook.com/kiwee813/posts/10213976141461747

 

[lazy gardener]

Katie, I might consider lowering the HP. It should be low enough that they can touch it with their backs. It looks a bit too tall. Also, you might consider wrapping the wire frame and cloth in fabric. Some folks have had chicks get stuck in wire frame, or between wire frame and the heating pad. Not necessary, but you might want to do so. Is one of the water sources without electrolytes? Might be a good idea to make one plain, if you have not yet done so. Hopefully, this chick was simply a failure to thrive, and the remaining 5 will do fine. Wishing you the best.

 

[Kater_tot]

It's a solid piece, no wire, I used Velcro to attach fabric to the inside so they aren't against metal

The nipple waterer is plain water

I will lower it! Thank you!

 

[azygous]

Is the heating pad touching their backs? This is often one detail folks miss when first setting up and using this system. During the first week, the heating pad ceiling should be very low. It should be no higher than a day old chick.

The pad should be on the higher settings for the first week. As the chicks double in size each week, you should be raising the pad and lowering the setting slightly, especially during the day.

Chicks need more heat at night using this system because they are sleeping and not consuming food calories. During the day, they need slightly less heat since they are consuming calories which increases their body heat. This shouldn't be confused with ambient temps which need to be cool as possible so chicks can shed excess body heat. They are a lot like lizards at this stage since they lack feathers to regulate their body temperatures, needing to move in and out of warm and cool zones.

Understanding why we do things helps us figure out why something might not be working. I do not believe you lost these chicks due to the heat issue. Everything points to shipping stress. Getting newly arrived chicks on Poultry Nutri-drench immediately counters the effects of shipping stress even better than electrolytes, which I wouldn't give if you are giving the Nutri-drench. The formula "main-lines" the nutrients without needing to go through the digestive system. This should be in the kit of every new chick owner.

 

[Kater_tot]

That makes a lot of sense, I've had reptiles before

Unfortunately I went off what the hatchery said, to not give them anything I've ordered nutri drench to have on hand from now on.

 

[azygous]

I'm so pleased you are using the heating pad system. It's the next best thing for chicks to an actual broody hen. It's really very difficult to screw up and overheat chicks with it.

The important thing to remember though is that a heating pad doesn't heat by radiation as heat lamps do. The heating pad heats by heat transfer so that's why you need direct contact with the chicks backs.

When folks first set up a heating pad cave and they stick their hand inside, they get very worried because it doesn't feel very warm. At best, you'll get a reading on the floor of the cave of 80F, but it's just the right temp if you make contact with the pad with the back of your hand. Also, the side of the pad with the writing is warmer than the "pretty" side so you want to place that side facing the chicks.

 

[Marieaa70]

well shit
This spring we lost all 6 chicks and it devastated my kids

We waited and researched and decided to try again. We got our 6 chicks from MPC yesterday morning and everyone seemed great. 2 hours ago everyone was out eating and drinking.

Then we went in and one was laying on its side dead under the heating pad cave. No pasty butt in any of them.

Now when one tries to go into the cave and rest I'm super paranoid no one seems lethargic, or fluffed. Everyone is moving around. One chick is a little less energetic than the others (light Brahma) but I wouldn't say it's lethargic.

What should I be doing? Can I do anything?

They are vaccinated and on medicated feed

 

[Marieaa70]

Put a little Apple Cider vinegar in there water ,

 

[Kater_tot]

Good info on the heat under the pad. It's lower now.

Weak chick #2 (Tiger lily) will drink if you dip her beak in the water, she has zero interest in crumble

I made a "soup" of electrolytes, crumble a A smudge of sugar and give to her with a dropper. She goes crazy for this and gives me some annoyed chirping info I stop. But then it's like it wears her out and she goes back to sleep. She will walk back to the cave whenever I out her back in, but won't leave her cave willingly

I'm pulling her once and hour and feeding her with the dropper.

 

[azygous]

Nutri-drench can rescue a chick that is having a hard time launching like Tiger Lilly. Sometimes a tiny chick hatches with a partially developed digestive system. Even if they do try to eat, they don't process the nutrients and calories. They are always cold because they aren't producing body heat. Nutri-drench by-passes their undeveloped digestive system.

Sugar is a reasonable substitute, but Nutri-drench will do a much better job. For a weak chick, I make a puddle with the undiluted stuff in the palm of my hand and dip their beak in it until I see they've consumes about one drop's worth. Then the rest of the time, all the chicks get it in their drinking water. About a quarter tsp to a quart of water. Even my broody and her chicks get the Nutri-drench "tea" for the first week after hatch. It's made especially for poultry so it has everything a new chick needs.