I got my chicks in today from Ideal. 3 chicks and 1 duck were dead when I got to the post office which was at about 9 am (they were shipped wednesday). I live about 15 minutes from that particular post office and by the time I got home I had already lost another duck and had one chick well on his way... he wouldn't eat or drink, and died a few minutes later. SO out of 37 chickletts (I love calling them that) and 3 ducklings I lost 4 chicks and 2 ducks
.
And wouldn't you know 3 of the chicks I couldn't tell what breed they were (all 3 the same breed though)... but I "think" I figured it out.
Is it normal to lose that many in a shipment? I figured maybe 1 or 2 would die, but I was hoping they would all be alive. I did not at all expect them to drop like flies.
The rest are running around the brooder seemingly fine, I'm still trying to get the temperature right for them... and I think I've just about got it, with probably 1 or 2 more tweakings.
They couldn't complete my order all in one shipment so I have a shipment coming next week, and they are adding the chicks I lost in with the ones I ordered. Will these chicks be okay with my new chicks next week? I'm assuming they will since they will only be a week apart, but just want to make sure.
Also, I've got little bullies on my hands. On 4 different occasions today, one chick (different one each time) will grap a body part of another chick (also different) and start dragging them around? What is the deal? They have food and water, and know where they are... they have been surrounding the food and water since they got it. Of course in shifts... some will sleep while others crowd the feeders and waterers... but in the "food" crowd they get aggressive? Should I add a third feeder? Does it have anything to do with the food at all? They have plenty of space. I know the heating situation is right yet but could that cause it? Or is it just normal "chick" things that I have never noticed before because I've never had this big of a batch?
Any advise is welcome!v
And wouldn't you know 3 of the chicks I couldn't tell what breed they were (all 3 the same breed though)... but I "think" I figured it out.
Is it normal to lose that many in a shipment? I figured maybe 1 or 2 would die, but I was hoping they would all be alive. I did not at all expect them to drop like flies.
The rest are running around the brooder seemingly fine, I'm still trying to get the temperature right for them... and I think I've just about got it, with probably 1 or 2 more tweakings.
They couldn't complete my order all in one shipment so I have a shipment coming next week, and they are adding the chicks I lost in with the ones I ordered. Will these chicks be okay with my new chicks next week? I'm assuming they will since they will only be a week apart, but just want to make sure.
Also, I've got little bullies on my hands. On 4 different occasions today, one chick (different one each time) will grap a body part of another chick (also different) and start dragging them around? What is the deal? They have food and water, and know where they are... they have been surrounding the food and water since they got it. Of course in shifts... some will sleep while others crowd the feeders and waterers... but in the "food" crowd they get aggressive? Should I add a third feeder? Does it have anything to do with the food at all? They have plenty of space. I know the heating situation is right yet but could that cause it? Or is it just normal "chick" things that I have never noticed before because I've never had this big of a batch?
Any advise is welcome!v