HELP I'm new and have chicks dying.

[Margot]

I am new to your forum and to chickens. I have a banty hen that sat and hatched 15 chicks. She is a good momma, but I've losst 2 chicks so far. The first one became punky, his wings sagging down and not acitvity. Just stood off in the corner. His pouch thing (can't think of word) on his right chest was puffed out, but did not have food in it. He died. Three days later another one had the same thing but now swollen pouch.

I'm giving them fresh water each day, baby chick feed in a creep feeder, I toss in come fresh grass and clover. Also, I have horses and my chickens love the sweet feed. I've tossed that in there (just a small handfull) They are kept in a wire cage about 2' x 3 on straw and newspsper.

Is there something I'm doing that is killing them? Tonite I lost the 2nd one, so I bleached a new cage, the waterer, feeder and moved everyone to the new case. Just clean straw, no newspaper, just chick feed. No grass or grain. Any help is appreciated.

 

[Sillystunt]

OMG, i believe clover is poisionus and grass isn't really good for them...that little, they can't digest!! i am sure someone will correct me if i am wrong. I know i am right though cause i can give my goats clover but no clover to chickens!!!!

Give them some poly vit drops in their water!!! ASAP

Keep us posted, i will find link to plants BRB

 

[California Ducken]

How old are the chicks?
It's the crop on their chest.
Have you seen them eat and drink?

 

[California Ducken]

I let mine eat it out of the grass all the time.
But you are right.....chick starter and possibly yogurt and boiled egg.

 

[Sillystunt]

ok here's the blog

https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=2593-Treats_Chart

Scroll down to toxix plants....but here's the link

http://www.poultryhelp.com/toxicplants.html

CLOVERS (Trifolium spp.); plant causes photosensitization and contact dermatitis (also see WHITE CLOVER).

WHITE CLOVER (Trifoliurn repens); plant is cyanogenetic.

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
That little i heard isn't good but when older sure ...mine eat everything...lol

I am not sure about yogurt that little to be honest,can't give adice on that one~
I am sure a mod will read and they know their stuff as well as guru's on here. they have helped me in the past!! Much love

Keep us posted,good luck

 

[Margot]

WOW What a quick response. The chicks are about 3-4 weeks old. Fuzz is going and feathers coming in. They are all very active. Do yo think I have too many in the cage? I read that cramped housing might cause mortaltiy. They have sticks across as roosts...the little ones jump up and down all the time.

Yesterday they tipped over the waterers and the bottom was wet... That is why I removed papers and just used straw.

I will cut out all the extras...just chick feed. Get some of those vita drops. The rest all seem to be doing fine, but so was the last one until he wasn't.

When can I let them out with the rest of the flock? The flock of banties are two roosters, 3 hen, and 1 hen with a 3 month old baby. They all fly up into the rafers of the barn at night, I'm afraid if I let the babies out the mom will fly up and the babies will be vunerable to evil doers of the night. (cats, coons, etc)

 

[dsedler]

Uh, mine get clover all the time and have been for the past 3 weeks. They are 4 weeks old now. They have been getting yogert and hard boiled eggs during that same time. However, I have also put a pan of sand in there for them to dust bathe and to eat as grit as they need it. I would be more worried about the sweet feed. It may be that some of the pieces are too big for them to digest or, being for horses, it might have some ingredient that isn't good for them. I have no idea what ingredient might be bad for them, just throwing out the possability.

I would stick to the chick food only for awhile and see if they do ok on just that. Maybe wait another week or 2 to add anything else in.

Edited:

We must have posted at the same time. I would try and move thim to a larger box if you can find one. I had 16 in a box that was 3' x 4' and they seem cramped in it by the time they were 3 weeks old. I just moved them to the coop on Friday and they are so happy with all the room. Of course, since your's are bantys, you should still have plenty of room.

 

[Sillystunt]

How many birds total?
how big coop?

STOP GIVING CLOVER!!!

rule is 4 sq ft per adult bird in coop
10 sq ft per bird in run

They need to be old enough to defend themselves. We have ours in different coops that they can see through wire. To get used to. we will not let ours in until they arealmost as big as my hens. It will be my first time doing this so i am NOOO expert! Like 5 months or when they start to get out of the pen and try to free range...lol my poor plants

Tight quarters lead to cannabalism(spell check) sorry, i can't spell! and lead to messes and birds dirty, poo etc~

 

[Sillystunt]

Quote:
listen if clover is on the toxic list...please don't give it to them! Starter scratch until they lay their first egg~