I have dying baby chicks!

[ProudNewChickenMommy86]

That makes me feel better!

I love this website I'm glad I've found it. Thank you, thank you!

 

[Sjisty]

What kind of bedding are you using? It should be pine shavings. Your chicks could also be getting cocci. Bloody poop is a clear indicator. Sulmet or Corid could help with that.

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

Hey New Chicken Mommy, don't get discouraged.

For what its worth....Here's my formula for chicks, I have gotten day olds, month olds, and hatched my own before....

Brooder: BIG rubbermaid tub, plus a 95w bulb, and one of those silver hoods for a heat lamp. For the first week or two if they are bantams, I keep the lamp is about 6" off the ground. Food and water are close by, but there is plenty of space to move if the chicks get too hot. Week 2 or 3, when i see that they are staying more to the outsides of the lamp, instead of right under it, I'll pull it up 3"-4". Eventually its clipped on the side of the bucket, then not needed at all after 4 weeks.

Food: Medicated chick starter

Substrate: I use paper towels for day old chicks, then move to shavings after the first week, just make sure they are not Cedar shavings.

Water: shallow dish with marbles, so they can't fall in and drown. Of course, I'm used to teeny tiny bantams that can drown in a teaspoon.

They LOVE hard boiled egg yolks as an extra treat, and when they are 2-4 weeks old, they will eat regular sized meal worms and small crickets as treats too.

Unless its a particularly warm sunny day, I don't usually take my chicks outside, and then its only for an hour or so.

I check them 2-3x daily for pasty butt, you know, poop stuck over their vent. Warm water and a q-tip usually does the trick.

And other than a couple birth defects, I've had 100% success.

 

[ProudNewChickenMommy86]

Only the last one had that... I fed her manna pro medicated chick starter to prevent that.

 

[frmgrl1968]

Welcome and let me say I'm so sorry about your babies. I don't know where you live but I love Meyers hatchery in Polk Ohio. They have a website its WWW.meyerhatchery.com
Don't give up they are so worth it. I've only had chickens since July and I love each one and my 2 turkeys. hugs

 

[greycat]

I would recommend using the heat lamp even though you have them indoors.

Especially on damp cool days. chicks can still get chilled even at several weeks old.

to young birds , getting chilled is very stressful on them.

The previous recommendation of 100 degrees to start and reduce 5 each week is a good rule of thumb.

The chicks can decide how warm they want or need to be, just provide a large enough space that they can get away from the heat if they want to

Don't give up - Try again
We all have to learn

 

[ProudNewChickenMommy86]

Thank you everyone!

 

[greycat]

By the way..... Use a red colored heat bulb.
It easier on their eyes

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Try using pine shavings as their bedding, it seems to be what works the best for everyone here.

 

[PtldChick]

Quote:
X2

I'm not sure what dye-free rat bedding is, but lots of people use cedar shavings for small animals and it is very bad for them. So if you are using cedar, get rid of it! That could explain what you have been seeing of the chicks living for a while, seeming fine and then dying - slow poisoning from cedar shavings.

Also, medicated food helps chicks survive cocci better, but it doesn't prevent or cure it. They can still get it on medicated food and if so, will need to be treated with Corid or Sulmet.

Good luck!