How many deaths is normal for raising chicks

[writerskramp]

I have 40 chicks in a very good sized brooder with plenty of space and 3 heat lamps I have a thermometer so it is kept at the right temp and they have plenty of room to move if they get too hot or cold , but so far I’ve had about 5 chicks die and I was just wondering if it’s something I’m doing or if this is normal

Have to agree with Mellowmalt, think you are cooking them. Trying to raise the air temperature of your outside brooder with heat lamps.. A heat lamp should be there to give them supplemental heat with the ability to move away when overheated.. There are black bulbs such as are used with reptiles in aquariums. Puts out heat and no light as well as no hot spot if your goal is to only heat your brooder. They kinda look like the old twisty fluorescent lamp bulbs and about twice the price of a regular heat lamp.. and harder to find outside of a pet shop or online. My experiance with heat lamps is that the chicks to pullets will move away as far as they can from the lamp that their space allows, but that is indoors.. The other issue is the 24 hour light.. To med or not to med is the question.. done both. Prefer to allow their immune system to develop unhindered.. After all, I was raised before the advent of vaccines and I am still here.​

 

[goldenyears]

I have 40 chicks in a very good sized brooder with plenty of space and 3 heat lamps I have a thermometer so it is kept at the right temp and they have plenty of room to move if they get too hot or cold , but so far I’ve had about 5 chicks die and I was just wondering if it’s something I’m doing or if this is normal

Lotsa variables. I ordered 22 various breeds from Meyer expecting some not to make it. The only ones that didn’t make it were destined for the dinner table when grown. Didn’t want 6 roosters. So we have 16 hens and two roosters. Last time we got chicks from TSC 3 out of 8 never made it out of the brooder. Why 3 and not 2 or even 6 - no idea! My view was I’m glad they were culled young before too much time, money and emotion was spent on them. Natural selection? Sorry I’m not much help.

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Is there anyway for them to get out of the heat I know with mine I have one side heated and one side not heated the first one is for my bantam chicks it's a tortoise box and the otherone is an old shipping crate that I converted

Three heat lamps is a lot for that small space. If I was you I would probably just open up the middle area and have one heat lamp sort of in the middle of the brooder. When chicks are raised by a broody hen they do not always stay under her and in fact after a week they are always running around on their own and just go back under her when they get a chill. You could even just put one heat lamp at one end as long as you open up that middle space and that way they can run around and go under it when they get chilled.

 

[Bound to Sea]

Maybe you need to get medicated food. My chicks started dying in till I got that food

I have always used medicated starter feed and never lost one chick. Is the food fresh? Was everyone's beak initially tipped into water and feed? Drafts are not good regardless of heaters in my opinion. All my chicks are kept in the house basement until off heat even in May in our part of the country. Just some things I have done....not sure if helps answer any questions. Sorry you have lost so many.

 

[Bound to Sea]

Thank you everyone who helped I think it is a Pasty Butt I didn’t see it at first but yesterday I noticed two more having it so I got rid of it for them and I think that was my problem

CK every day for pasty butt as it will re appear on some chicks again. I have had some with pasty butt for a week. Try cooked egg and I have also given vitamins in water for first couple weeks.

 

[Mamatomany123]

I have always used medicated starter feed and never lost one chick. Is the food fresh? Was everyone's beak initially tipped into water and feed? Drafts are not good regardless of heaters in my opinion. All my chicks are kept in the house basement until off heat even in May in our part of the country. Just some things I have done....not sure if helps answer any questions. Sorry you have lost so many.

I've never used medicated chick feed and have never lost a chick. With her saying the temp is over 100 and that they're getting pasty butt, I would bet money that that is why they're dying. It's just too hot.

 

[mpdnd1]

I have 40 chicks in a very good sized brooder with plenty of space and 3 heat lamps I have a thermometer so it is kept at the right temp and they have plenty of room to move if they get too hot or cold , but so far I’ve had about 5 chicks die and I was just wondering if it’s something I’m doing or if this is normal

I have noticed something very similar in chicks that I have bought of late from farm supply stores. Some of it I attribute to genetic factors and there is always the chance of some contaminant or virus that can just cause them to drop. I didn't used to experience such a low rate of survival as I do these days.

 

[Davethebirdman]

I have 40 chicks in a very good sized brooder with plenty of space and 3 heat lamps I have a thermometer so it is kept at the right temp and they have plenty of room to move if they get too hot or cold , but so far I’ve had about 5 chicks die and I was just wondering if it’s something I’m doing or if this is normal

Why 3 heat lamps? Put one off to the side so they can get away from the heat as they need to. They get overheated. I don’t often lose chicks. Are they mail order? Those are the only kind Ive had issues with.

 

[NatJ]

Why 3 heat lamps? Put one off to the side so they can get away from the heat as they need to. They get overheated. I don’t often lose chicks. Are they mail order? Those are the only kind Ive had issues with.

Quotes from the original poster, that already answered your questions:

I have 3 because the brooder is outside and it’s been about 30 degrees so it takes a couple to keep it to 95, they have access to fresh food and water , and no obstructions besides food and water that they could fall over, maybe I should take out a heat lamp ? I just have two in the same spot and then one by itself

I got them at rural king so they were shipped, I got them a week ago so just over a week old, and I got a variety

I separated them and moved the big ones with my other big chicks and then split the little ones in half so they aren’t so crowded, my brooder is 4 foot by 9 foot...I have a variety I do notice that the smaller ones are the ones that died so I was hoping by separating the really small ones they wouldn’t have to fight for food and maybe they would be able to eat and drink normal

And by now, it seems to be solved:

Thank you everyone who helped I think it is a Pasty Butt I didn’t see it at first but yesterday I noticed two more having it so I got rid of it for them and I think that was my problem