How many deaths is normal for raising chicks

[LaFleche]

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 think that 40 chicks in one brooder might be the reason. Better divide them into at least two groups in two different brooders.

The weaker ones will be pushed aside and not be able to eat or drink as needed.

 

[Painted Calls]

You should also be monitoring everyone for pasty butt.

 

[LaFleche]

good sized brooder with plenty of space

How big exactly? Please, provide some pictures of your set up.

 

[Nigel27]

You should also be monitoring everyone for pasty butt.

Yes! This could definitely be it with the cold

 

[Hunter81103]

You should also be monitoring everyone for pasty butt.

Should I look at the dead ones to see if they have if ?

 

[Nigel27]

You could, you should check any that look lethargic. It’s rarely fatal once they’re over two weeks. It can be pretty hard to see sometimes.

 

[Painted Calls]

Should I look at the dead ones to see if they have if ?

That would be a good idea!

 

[Ridgerunner]

I also brood chicks outside using heat lamps when it is below freezing. I usually have about 20 straight from the incubator so about half your numbers. I almost never lose one and mine are just hatched, so fairly equivalent to what you have. I'd think it is probably something to do with your set-up or conditions. Five is a lot, especially after they survived shipping to the feed store. Some are essentially hatched with birth defects that can cause them to fail to thrive and die but five out of forty would be a pretty high coincidence if that is it.

Yours are about a week old. When did they start dying? How do they act? Do they just fall over and die with no warning or are they lethargic and not eating or drinking for a while? Knowing how they are acting before they die could give some pretty big clues or eliminate some things.

Some photos of your set-up could help. How big in feet or meters is your brooder? How are your lamps set up? How cold is it in the coolest parts of that brooder? How good is wind protection? Are you keeping the brooder dry? What waterers are you using, can they fall in and get soaked? Where are you finding the bodies in the brooder, spread out or all in the same spot? Have you examined the bodies for any wounds or marks? Checking for pasty butt is a good idea but don't stop there. Especially look for wounds on the head.

You say they are various breeds. Does that mean the ones that died are various breeds or is there some pattern? Are they all dual purpose full sized fowl or do you have bantams. Are some the fancy decorative breeds? Unless there is some pattern as to which have died this is probably not important but I'm searching for any clues.

 

[Hunter81103]

I also brood chicks outside using heat lamps when it is below freezing. I usually have about 20 straight from the incubator so about half your numbers. I almost never lose one and mine are just hatched, so fairly equivalent to what you have. I'd think it is probably something to do with your set-up or conditions. Five is a lot, especially after they survived shipping to the feed store. Some are essentially hatched with birth defects that can cause them to fail to thrive and die but five out of forty would be a pretty high coincidence if that is it.

Yours are about a week old. When did they start dying? How do they act? Do they just fall over and die with no warning or are they lethargic and not eating or drinking for a while? Knowing how they are acting before they die could give some pretty big clues or eliminate some things.

Some photos of your set-up could help. How big in feet or meters is your brooder? How are your lamps set up? How cold is it in the coolest parts of that brooder? How good is wind protection? Are you keeping the brooder dry? What waterers are you using, can they fall in and get soaked? Where are you finding the bodies in the brooder, spread out or all in the same spot? Have you examined the bodies for any wounds or marks? Checking for pasty butt is a good idea but don't stop there. Especially look for wounds on the head.

You say they are various breeds. Does that mean the ones that died are various breeds or is there some pattern? Are they all dual purpose full sized fowl or do you have bantams. Are some the fancy decorative breeds? Unless there is some pattern as to which have died this is probably not important but I'm searching for any clues.

Usually I find them just laying on the floor almost flattened like they were trampled, earlier 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, usually before they die I notice they don’t have much energy and they kinda don’t move when I go to grab them, yesterday I saw one that was acting like it was going to die and I took her inside and she began to act normal and I put her back and later I found her dead, I looked for pasty butt but didn’t see anything on any that have died, 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

 

[Duckbreeder2020]

What bedding are you using? Is the food medicated?