Help :'( my babies are dead and I Don't know why

[Miss Red]

Was the water dish brand new? We lost a batch of chicks once to a chemical on the new waterer. Took us three tries to figure out to wash the durned thing by asking around. Now we use home-made waterers.

 

[Qi Chicken]

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry this happened to you. I'm going to go check on my own right now. Did you have the thermometer in there all the time...and space enough for them to move closer to or further away from the light as needed? I don't know what happened to your chicks exactly but it probably did have to do with temp and moisture. Well, actually, just because the feed is new to you doesn't mean that it was ok. It could have been bad/moldy feed. Don't let this discourage you. You can still stabilize your temps and your waterer, make sure they have enough room and get some more. I wouldn't use pine shavings until they are about a week, paper towels only, just to be extra cautious. So sorry, good luck to you.

ETA good point by miss red, that could happen.

 

[Spookwriter]

I've never done mail-order chicks. BUt I agree people do it everyday.
Hard to blame the complete failure on mail-order. Especially as you have
chicks from two different sources.

Everything else sounds fairly normal.

Plastic tote, source of heat in acceptable range. Pine shaving...seems as if
I read somewhere as if newspaper was not the best floor, but I've always
used it with no loss. No colored or slick paper. Correct food.

So...chemical or air?

No heavy odor in the area? Perfume, bleach...? Clean air?

Water next. If it was a new waterer, surely you washed it before use?
Quality of water? Any chemicals in your water supply?

Same question as to the feeder. Was it new? You washed it? In what?

My guess would be with chemical. But...just a guess.

ME? My choice has been with a new cardboard box bought just for that purpose.
Shredded newspaper for flooring the first two-three weeks. (I feel the cardboard
and newspaper provide a better, softer footing than the plastic totes. Feeder and
water dishes are hand washed in the kitchen, well rinsed, dried with paper towels.
Food is chick starter, and our county water is pretty good, but I do have a in line filter.

Again, my guess leans toward a chemical. Doesn't take much.

I'd clean everything and try again. Sounds like you tried to do everything right. Don't
feel bad. It happens once in a while.

**I'll edit to remind you to always wash your hands before and after handling the
chicks. Could easily be something on your hands transfer. Same with cigarette smoke...
I wont' smoke near them. (Think I'm picky about my chicks, you should of seen me with
with my baby daughter. She's ten now, and I'm STILL over-protective.)

 

[lemurchaser]

If they were all together, were they in a corner or anything. Piling up can suffocate chicks really quickly, and it can happen if they are too cold or it is suddenly dark and they aren't used to it.

 

[Nystra]

they were not all ontop of eachother.. I just dont know wat happened.. I have one left.. I changed my light back to the old one i used the day before and it is now 12hours after the sudden deaths of the others and she is still ok.... the temp is holding at 90 under the light. Im looking into finding her some new companions. because im pretty sure its not good to just have one chick? I would post a pic of my set up.. but i dont know how to attach a picture threw this type of a link? I had my boyfriend drill some holes in the side of the container because someone else had said maybe the air wasnt circulating and was stagnant? and too hot. so i'll see how she goes...

 

[SkyWarrior]

Sorry this happened.

I wonder if perhaps you need a bigger brooder so that if the chicks get warm they can move away from the lamp. If you had a thermometer on it, you could tell what the temperature might have been.

It could be anything from the heat to being cold to the newsprint or to something totally unexpected. Hang in there.

 

[MareeZoCool]

I'm sorry that happened to you.

 

[OmaBird]

When you found the chicks where they piled up closest to the light or where they farthest from the light.

I like to keep my chicks near me so I can listen to them. If the are running all over the brooder with nice little soft chirping sounds. If they are chirping loudly, something is wrong. If they are hot they will pant and try to get far away from the heat. Was the brooder big enough for them to get away from the heat?

I do not change light bulbs at night. Instead I keep the room at 75 with a space heater.

Never use newpapers. It causes leg problems. In a pinch use paper towels.

 

[kittykorat]

I'm sorry for your loss.
Last week I got 2 speckled sussex chicks, brought them home, divided the brooder I had in the garage (so they would be separated from the 3 week olds) and put them on the side closer to the heat lamp.
I went inside to feed my kids lunch, went back outside an hour later, and both were dead.

I felt terrible.
I think they were too hot.

I picked up a second heat lamp. I picked up 6 EE's at the feed store and set up a big clear plastic tub to use as the brooder, right below the TV in the living room so we can keep tabs on them.

 

[Nystra]

they were all spread out kinda under the light. not all grouped together. I had someone recently tell me that the regular 100 watt bulbs will burn off the oxygen in the air? or something like that? im thinking that might have been it. Because they didnt die untill we changed the bulb from my ceramic heat bulb to a 100watt regular light emitting bulb and add in two new chicks... the bucked it 3ft wide. 90 under the light and around 78 on the otherside. i have one thermometer so im afraid to leave it over on the cool side for too long now with my one lone chick left.... she is doing better now. yesterday she was breathing heavily and not chirping. now with the ceramic heat bulb back shes walking around eating and drinking. made it threw the night and the first part of the day wen i got home from classes she was still fine. she keeps scaring me because she doesnt run around or chirp unless she sees me or my boyfriend. so wen i walk out of sight she will stop making noise so i keep rushing back in to check on her. I'm using paper towels atm for bedding and a hand towel under the light for her to cuddle with... we are going to go get pine shavings for bedding shortly and sometime in the next few days go get some new chicks to keep her company. I'm jst scared to get more I feel so terrible with the fact that they died so suddenly