I'm a Victim. Everytime I get baby Chicks....((GRAPHIC PIX))

[jenjscott]

Well, I try and watch the weather. A 60 watt lamp for newborns is not much, Its already been getting down into the seventies at night and for newborns that need 95 degrees it is inadequate. It is the time of year for the wild temperature swings to plague us. It well be back in the nineties today or tomorrow. Tonight will be chilly again.

 

[chickensducks&agoose]

You're not a victim, you're just negligent! Feed sacks aren't enough insulation, and are probably CAUSING the spraddle leg. Get some shavings in there pronto. Keep the sides covered, use the feed bags there! Then get more lights, 100 or 120 watt bulbs in each. you need about 1 light for every 15 chicks, and that's still kind of crowded. If you manage your animals inhumanely, many will die, and I don't see the use in complaining about it here, unless you want to be reported.

 

[jeremy]

Whoa, whoa folks. Don't jump the gun calling the OP inhumane, or threatening to report him or her.
Who's to say this person isn't only doing what they thought (yes, clearly there are some visible mistakes) was the right way to raise chicks?
Maybe they didn't have BYC in the beginning to help them learn the correct methods.

That said... are we not a community that helps one another? Why not offer up some valuable advice instead of the would-be hate mongering?

Instead of saying, "That's terrible, you should be ashamed of yourself for the mistreatment of those animals..."
You could mention,
Quote:
Let's try to help this person out! Obviously they could use some support.

 

[featherz]

I had a few spraddle leg chicks in each hatch and cleared it up in a day or two with a little vet wrap. No need to cull unless you try that and it fails. Only takes a few seconds to try!

 

[usschicago1]

First Off, I don't know if your bit lazy and inconsiderate. Whether you didn't research the temp needs chicks have, or you were just too lazy to make those conditions, i dont know. And Feed bags would be fine against the edges but they should have rubber or paper towels to walk on ! Thats were there spraddle legs are coming from. So How about you research some more or spend some more time with them making there conditions as close to ideal as you can? I really like seeing chickens with people who care, rather than this.

As far as the four legged chick, that is amazing! I have always wanted such an oddity! I would love to hatch something like that lol.

Mark

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
Let's try to help this person out! Obviously they could use some support.

 

[usschicago1]

Quote:
Let's try to help this person out! Obviously they could use some support.

A Bit of research goes a long way urbanfarmboy

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
I think that your set-up could easily be modified to help these babies do better in the colder temperatures.

First, even the 60 watt bulb would do more good if the sides of the brooder weren't all opened up like that. A couple of big rubber maid totes or some plywood around the outside of your current setup will do a lot better and helping to hold some heat around those babies. All those holes allow drafts that leave those babies very vulnerable. Also, a 100 watt bulb, which costs the same as a 60 watt, will help keep them warmer. It will also be better for all those little feet that are learning how to maneuver, if they have a flat surface that isn't slick. I think you will have fewer spraddle leg problems if you try paper towels for the first few days, instead of feed sacks - and then maybe some pine shavings when they get a little bigger.

I hope you have great success with those that remain. Sorry for all your losses.

 

[LizGled628]

I think everyone on here wants to help, and wants to see you and your chickens thrive. However, hearing that this has happened before, and that it seems you are aware that temperature is an issue, it's hard not to jump to conclusions.

Most people here understand the whole cycle of life thing, and there is nothing wrong with using your dead chicks as catfish bait. In fact, I personally think it's a wonderful act of respect, to not waste an animal simply because it did not live for its intended purpose. However, many folks on here, including myself, keep chickens as pets, and that image was difficult to see. I do hope you understand the sensitivity.

That being said, I do not think you should be culling chicks because they look weak, or have spraddle leg, if you have not at least given them an environment to thrive in. I agree that you should put shavings in there, perhaps more space if you have it available, and adequate heat. I hope that this batch of chicks thrives, and that the ones in the future arrive to a better situation. Good luck.

 

[emvickrey]

To those of you that just jumped right to the verbal spanking. Shame on you! We're here to help. I didn't know squat till I joined this group and I can now cure spraddle leg and keep my chicks warm and I rarely have to put one out of it's misery but I will if need be. (actually, that job is for DH) but it gets done. I don't know how much room per chick thre is suppose to be but I can "see" crowded. I don't know exactly the temps chicks need to be but I try to keep ine around 90 degrees for the first week then lower it to 80. After they get their feathers I don't use a heat lamp unless it's winter or falling below 60 at night. That is if they are outside. I keep my bators inside, in my spare room with the airconditioner on 78 to keep the room stable so the bators will stay stable. When the chicks hatch they go into one of the brooders which I have turned 2 20 gal incubators and a huge clear tub into. Depending on how many there are decides which they go into. After they are a few weks old, in the warmer months, and after they get their feathers in the colder months, they go outside. If it's cold they get a heat lamp that is the red ones that are 120 watt. We have a tractor that we use in the winter and we cover it with a tarp so no breeze gets in and the heat stays in. This is their home all winter. They get moved to their appropriate coop or pen after that or to auction. Which ever.

From what I see you should do is cover your brooder with those feed sacks and make sure they are secure with no way a draft can get in and put in 2 heat lamps. One at each end. Make sure that the sacks aren't touching or too close to the lights to cause a fire. They will need ventilation also so a few holes near the top won't hurt a thing. If your brooder has a floor instead of wire put down some wood shavings. Don't let the shavings get gross before you change it either. Their poop will hurt their feet and living in filth can kill more. You should clean it when it starts to get stinky. Thats usually a good indicator it's ready to be changed. A healthy chicken is a happy chicken. They grow faster and are healthier if taken care of. I try to treat mine as I would want to be treated. Although, living in a coop isn't my idea of a home but then again they are livestock. Those that are unacceptable and are tossed in the bucket shold be humanely culled before. It's cruel to just toss them in a bucket to die. Spraddle leg can be cured. I've done it many times myself. It just take a little extra time and patience and it keeps you from loosing more of your chicks. You'll want to isolate those with it so the others don't trample them or peck at them. They need rom for recovery. If you need instructions on how to treat for spraddle leg just ask. There are lots of us here and glad to help.

I am no professional at all and all i've learned i've done from this great site. And please don't let a few bad apples discourage you from continuing to enjoy this site. There are tons of information here to be had.

Good luck with your babies and please don't hesitate to come to us for help.