Help! Lethargic chicks! Lost 3 already!

[buckbeak]

So far 13 have successfully hatched, but suddenly they seemed to have problems breathing & 3 died. The rest are huddled together sleeping. They wake for a minute or two & then go right back to sleep.

This happened 3 weeks ago also. I lost 3 babies- I thought they suffocated from me cooking bacon & they were only a few yards away. But this time they chicks were out in our sunroom!

I have changed the bedding- new pine shavings and new paper towels. Temp is at 95 degrees in the brooder.
Any suggestions? I don't want to lose any more. I have 7 six week olds and have raised chicks since last year, although I'm new to hatching. It is just chicks I've hatched. Could that be it?

Thanks in advance!
Carol

 

[buckbeak]

Just lost another one! Help anyone?

 

[ArcticFox]

How are your chicks doing now? I'm so sorry for your losses

I've got 27 4 day old chicks and one is acting just like you mentioned. It's awake and moving around only for a moment before it falls back to sleep again. It's acting nothing like the rest...

I wish I could tell you what to do but I'm new at this. Hopefully someone else will respond soon

 

[dlhunicorn]

are they on medicated starter?
exactly how old are these chicks? (temps should be reduced by five degrees each week> if they are now seven weeks and the temp is 95 then this is way too warm for them)

 

[buckbeak]

Oh, sorry for the confusion. They hatched between Friday & Sunday middle of the night. I lost 4 & the others were lethargic, but then seemed to snap out of it. Yes, medicated chick starter was available, although most hadn't started to eat yet.
My seven week olds just moved out to the coop, with heat lamp area available if needed. Mostly they are roosting with the big chickens though.

I wonder if it is air qualiity, or if the cross of breeds isn't working- something wrong with lung capacity. All seven chicks I have lost both times were crosses between bantams and a standard SSH. Two are still surviving though, and another one just hatched late.

Thanks for the help!
Carol