Help! What am I doing wrong?

[KaiAnn]

I have lost over 10% of my Cornish Cross chicks in just 2 weeks. All were alive on arrival. I started with 132 and am down 13-14 birds. They have plenty of fresh water (with some added vitamins), 12 hours on and 12 off of Purina Flockraiser. I monitor the temperature of the coop several times a day and open it up for fresh air if it's warm enough. They have plenty of open space to move around. I got them from Hoover Hatchery in Iowa. All of my layers from Meyer Hatchery are healthy, thriving and spoiled rotten. Anything I can do different for my meat birds? Thanks!

 

[number1newbie]

When I get baby chickens (ones that are used for laying hens) I put hay in as the bedding and a heat lamp I don't even check the temp I just watch and see if they are huddling up close I move the heat lamp closer! Oh and make sure that they don't have pasty butts the can cause problems! It's when the poop gets stuck around there butts and it soon won't allow them to go to the bathroom and it can be deadly! Also you can put towels under the heat lamps so that they can get off of the bedding and it makes them feel more comfortable! What kind of heat lamp do you use white or red? White heat lamps can cause pecking and cause chicks to attack other chicks that are injured! Red is the best way to go !

 

[KaiAnn]

Always red lamps, and I've learned to watch the chicks behavior to adjust. No pasty butts which is amazing considering the amount of poop 120 chicks make. I add fresh bedding (shavings) every day but there's no way to really keep up with them. It is INSANE. I'm concerned about padding for their little legs since they're fragile when they grow so quickly. Is there anything else that would be eady for them to waddle around in? thanks so much for your help!

 

[number1newbie]

How large is your brooder?

 

[number1newbie]

Can you post a pic of your brooder?

 

[phalenbeck]

That is a 10% loss, that is on the high end of acceptable. If your food/space/venting/heat cool is all good it is just the way it is. Sometimes you loose a few, and sometimes a few more, and sometimes almost none. I have had batches that were weaker/slower/stronger-----------

 

[KaiAnn]

Right now they are using a portion of the coop, about 12 ft wide and 7 feet deep. I started them in 3 huge boxes with their own heat lamp, feeder and waterer. When they started to get crowded, we opened up the area. It'll grow as they do.

 

[enola]

How old are they?

 

[KaiAnn]

2-1/2 weeks

 

[RedMini]

When did you start the 12hr on, 12 hr off schedule?
Not sure if it has anything to do with it, but I started that at 3 weeks of age.