Help me keep my hatchlings alive (I've failed at this part in the past)

[furbabymum]

So I've hatched out chicks before but have had no survivors. Partly due to my stupidity and partly because, I don't know, fate? So this time I have only 1 chick out so far. It's 2 days old and none of the other eggs are even peeping (I did candle and we did have 6 other viable looking eggs). So this chick is in a 10 gallon fish tank with a heat lamp and a stuffed toy in the bathroom (next to the incubator). So far so good. Last time we hatched chicks I put a full waterer in. Needless to say we had some water related deaths. I think I learned my lesson this time and have 2 lids, one with food and one with a few ml of watere. So far so good. It's only been 2 days though. Last time my deaths seemed to be at a week, for who knows why. Sooooooo what should I keep doing or stop doing or do to make this chick LIVE BABY LIVE!

 

[enola]

You need a different brooder than a 10 gallon aquarium with a heat lamp. Get a card board box that is large enough for the chick to get away from the heat lamp. It is too easy to overheat and dehydrate the chicks. Dehydration is deadly to chicks.

Be sure to ask any question, there are no dumb questions.....

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Yes, ditch the aquarium. 10 gal is way small, and they aren't well ventilated, even with the top off.

 

[theawesomechick]

You need a feeder and waterer specially designed for chicks, opposed to something you might have "lying around". I can't really tell from your post what your feeder and waterers are like.

 

[furbabymum]

You need a different brooder than a 10 gallon aquarium with a heat lamp. Get a card board box that is large enough for the chick to get away from the heat lamp. It is too easy to overheat and dehydrate the chicks. Dehydration is deadly to chicks.

Be sure to ask any question, there are no dumb questions.....

I have much bigger brooders but I just figured for 1 chick it'd be a waste to get them ready. I suppose I didn't consider the heat. Figured more was better. Noted!

 

[furbabymum]

You need a feeder and waterer specially designed for chicks, opposed to something you might have "lying around". I can't really tell from your post what your feeder and waterers are like.

I wouldn't exactly say it is stuff I had lying around. They are lids to mason jars. Jars I keep around for poultry items. I have different food and such I keep in them. I'm not putting chick related feeders and waterers in. I did that last time and they died from it. Not doing it again.

 

[CasadasHens]

Oh, I wish you good luck with keeping your chick going...and any others.....

 

[enola]

Are you using chick starter feed? Making sure they have water available at all times? Where are your hatching eggs coming from? What are you using for bedding? What is the temperature in your brooder?

.....just trying to help......

 

[aart]

I wouldn't exactly say it is stuff I had lying around. They are lids to mason jars. Jars I keep around for poultry items. I have different food and such I keep in them. I'm not putting chick related feeders and waterers in. I did that last time and they died from it. Not doing it again.

How did the feeders and waterers make the chicks die?

 

[AmericanMom]

How did the feeders and waterers make the chicks die?

x2....

Its all I've used, its the other things lying around I would worry about, them falling into things etc...