Help Please !?

[LPGriffin]

Hi everyone ! Im fairly new here and a first time chicken mom

I ordered chickens from McMurray hatchery and they arrived Thursday. All my chicks seemed healthy , I inspected each for blocked vents ,ect. No problems until today. About an hour ago I found one of my barred rock chicks dead and Im not sure why or what happened.

My husband built a very nice brooder but it has been so cold and windy that I bought the chicks inside. I have a very large plastic tub with a heat lamp secured above at one end. I have been changing the feed and bedding daily, and refill the water several times a day. The temperature is where its supposed to be, been monitoring it regularly as well. Any thoughts, ideas or suggestions ? Thanks !

 

[21hens-incharge]

Some plastics can give off toxins in the air especially when heated. I would also look at the ventilation you have on the tub. It sounds like there is fully open top so I don't really suspect a ventilation issue.
How many chicks, what size container, what wattage heat lamp?? These things will help people help you.

The other thing about totes is that if a chick is getting to warm they really do not have a cool place they can get to. The tubs are really to small in most cases for chicks to have room to get away from the heat source.

If you can I would get a couple cardboard boxes and attach them together making a cool end and a warm end with access between to keep the chicks in if you plan to keep them inside for a while longer.

 

[LPGriffin]

Thank you . I have a total of 25 chicks, was 26. I will try the cardboard box idea. Most of the chicks are nestled up sleeping almost directly under the light so I didn't think that the heat was an issue but perhaps so . They have all been active and eating/drinking well. I was just sitting there sipping coffee and watching them earlier....The heat lamp I have is 250watt red lamp. (These were the only size/type the local stores have and they were shelved with the chicken supplies so I thought they would work fine. The bin is completely open on the top, so most likely not a ventilation issue Thank you for your response !!

 

[chicklover 1998]

those lights are perfect, could it be that it was just a failure to thrive chick?

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also used a 250 watt red light. You have the right light but may just need some more room for them.
There is also the possibility that the one chick had a rough hatch or rough ride making it to you and did ok but something inside went wrong. These things do happen and it is sad.

Could be too that with 26 there was a chick pile and that one was stuck on the bottom of the sleeping mass.

 

[LPGriffin]

Maybe so ...I feel terrible and so I wanted to post and get some different opinions from more experienced flock owners !

 

[chicklover 1998]

I forgot to say welcome to BYC, and sometimes these things happen don't beat yourself up about it my first batch of 7 chicks I lost one because I used the wrong bedding it died I learned my lesson and haven't had a chick die since.

 

[harley90]

Yea I had a couple when they go to huddle up they smother each other some time I have to get them to separate a bit they just sleep on top of each other but I live in Florida and it rarely gets really cold I think the only time it gets cold here is when a cold front come through but it only last a couple days then its back to 80s and 90 with high humidity lol

 

[LPGriffin]

I forgot to say welcome to BYC, and sometimes these things happen don't beat yourself up about it my first batch of 7 chicks I lost one because I used the wrong bedding it died I learned my lesson and haven't had a chick die since.

What type of bedding was the "wrong" type ? I think mine is pine shavings from our local farm supply store.

 

[LPGriffin]

Yea I had a couple when they go to huddle up they smother each other some time I have to get them to separate a bit they just sleep on top of each other but I live in Florida and it rarely gets really cold I think the only time it gets cold here is when a cold front come through but it only last a couple days then its back to 80s and 90 with high humidity lol

I am originally from FL as well ! Became a Georgia girl when I met my hubby