How often do 100% of chicks make it?

[SlipsWife]

This is our first flock and so far we've bought 8 from TSC (6 red sex-links and 2 bantams) and after 4 days the smallest bantam died. It seemed fine, eating and drinking and running around and then suddenly died. Then we went to a local feed store and bought 2 white leghorn pullets and 1 just died at one month (something was 'wrong' for a couple of weeks but she acted ok, just not 'normal'). We ordered the Cackle Surprise and recieved them yesterday and even though there were no DOA's, we lost one this morning and have a few that still look worn out from travel. I'm very happy with our order but curious on if we should just expect more loses do to travel/breed.

I know loses are to be expected but what is 'normal'? What breeds tend to be pretty hardy and travel well? Also, at what age does a death not reflect poorly on the hatchery and might be linked to care?

Please share your chick stories and rate of survival.

 

[teach1rusl]

I've always read that you should expect at least an 80% survival rate on shipped chicks??? Of four shipments I've received over the past several years, I've never had one die, in shipment or in the weeks afterward. My brother did have one of 7 die (during shipment)...none died afterward.

You can try mixing a little sugar into the water (one day only) to perk them up a bit...or SaveAChick from TSC.

 

[ancdwc]

I feel you. We have never lost a chick before. Ever. This week alone we lost one in shipping from an injury, one fell asleep in its water last night and one of our turkeys just died. Its a horrible thing.

 

[SlipsWife]

I feel you. We have never lost a chick before. Ever. This week alone we lost one in shipping from an injury, one fell asleep in its water last night and one of our turkeys just died. Its a horrible thing.

I'm sorry one of your turkeys didn't make it. I know you did all you could. We have 12 that are probably a mix of red sexlinks/white leghorn/austra whites and I still think cornish and they are in the best shape out of everyone. They're like little hulks of the chicken world. I wish the bantams were stronger, they have me worried.

 

[popsicle]

I've never had chicks shipped--so I can't answer about that, but it always seems that a few losses are expected, and no losses is a frequent bonus. The hatcheries often add in a few extra chicks to compensate for expected losses.

I've only gotten chicks and pullets from "local" sources--either breeders or feed store. I haven't lost a chick obtained at less than 5-weeks old yet (knock on wood!). I usually get them in small batches of 5 or 6 at a time, so maybe that helps with making sure they are all getting heat, feed, water and such.

I have lost started pullets soon after moving them--I think the stress can make weakness or illnesses flare up. I'm not sure I'd get started pullets again--unless it was something really neat and from a trusted source (no more picking up from farmyards found on Craigslist).

 

[SlipsWife]

We've had about 10 with pasty butt today. I'm glad we caught it but we only had 1 out of the others we've gotten and it wasn't near as bad as these were! I found out the hatchery our TSC uses is out of New Mexico (I wish I could remember the name!) so maybe the shorter travel distance helped.

 

[Texiken2000]

estes hatchery maybe?

 

[SlipsWife]

estes hatchery maybe?

That sounds like it, I will ask when I go back again. There seems to always be something we need from there! The red pullets we got from there have been very healthy and are starting to get big at a month.