Help with chicks

[tonyamarie]

I have a dozen or so chicks about 3 weeks old they were all doing great till about a week ago. 6 of the chicks are welsummer and they are the olny ones to be affected, i am finding them unable to walk and labored breathing. It seems to be happening one at a time, i will move her from the other chicks and i can get them back up and moving around day 2 by handfeeding and syringe . When i go to put the chick back with the others i find another one down. They are under a red heat light, not outside yet, medicated chick feed, and are in pine bedding. I have been raising a couple years and i have never had this problem. I need help

 

[PD-Riverman]

I have a dozen or so chicks about 3 weeks old they were all doing great till about a week ago. 6 of the chicks are welsummer and they are the olny ones to be affected, i am finding them unable to walk and labored breathing. It seems to be happening one at a time, i will move her from the other chicks and i can get them back up and moving around day 2 by handfeeding and syringe . When i go to put the chick back with the others i find another one down. They are under a red heat light, not outside yet, medicated chick feed, and are in pine bedding. I have been raising a couple years and i have never had this problem. I need help

Not being there to see, etc, I have no idea but Just for info, have you checked your temp in the brooder----a red heat lamp sounds like a Huge Over Kill----that can Kill. I know you have experience but something to think about here----why would "we" need a Huge red heat lamp to raise a few chicks when a Broody hen only heats a area about the size of a small plate and she is outside??? Only a small area needs to be heated---the rest of the brooder unheated. Good Luck

Pics just for a thought.

 

[Laya egg]

How are the chicks doing? Did you consider coccidiosis? I do not feel like the heat lamp was overkill, as long as the chicks had an area away from the lamp. Also, from all of my readings, if you are going to do a heat lamp, the red one is the most responsible one to go with. Another thought is to add electrolytes to the water if you have not already been doing this. Save-a-chick is one version available at most feed stores.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I do not feel like the heat lamp was overkill, as long as the chicks had an area away from the lamp. .

A red heat lamp properly used in a good size brooder is fine--a 250 watt heat lamp shinning down in a small plastic tote----is a over-kill for a few chicks in My Opinion. Read the OP quoted post below. When removing the chick that "sounds" like its possibly dying from a heat stroke----the chick gets better in a day or two----Sounds like it might be getting to hot----might be??? Needs to check the temp----they are 3 weeks old---don't need a lot of heat---want hurt to check the temperature----will it?

i will move her from the other chicks and i can get them back up and moving around day 2 by handfeeding and syringe . When i go to put the chick back with the others i find another one down. They are under a red heat light,

 

[Pork Pie]

A red heat lamp properly used in a good size brooder is fine--a 250 watt heat lamp shinning down in a small plastic tote----is a over-kill for a few chicks in My Opinion. Read the OP quoted post below. When removing the chick that "sounds" like its possibly dying from a heat stroke----the chick gets better in a day or two----Sounds like it might be getting to hot----might be??? Needs to check the temp----they are 3 weeks old---don't need a lot of heat---want hurt to check the temperature----will it?

Agreed - it's not a biggie to check the temp. By 10 days my chicks have no heat source (though they are brooded indoors).