Just bought chicks yesterday - Healthy, then lethargic, dying off

[Cashie]

Quote:
Oh dear, did not know that a mold could grow in straw in the space of a day. I have the chicks in a cage in my kitchen and the thermometer is in the corner. I don't have any pine shavings right now. I can take out the straw and leave the newspaper.

Thank you all for your help. I really appreciate it.

 

[Celtic Chick]

You can keep the straw in there until tomorrow, just remove any that is wet/damp.
The thermometer should be directly under the lamp, which should be off to one side a little so if they are too warm they can get away from it. The thermometer should read the warmest spot in the brooder, and for the first week of a chicks life, the temp. should be 95 degrees. You should lower the temp. every week by 5 degrees (at 2 weeks of age, it should be 90 at the warmest spot). Chicks will tell you if they are too warm or too cold by their actions. If they huddle together the light, they're cold. If they run into the corners to get away from the light & each other, they are too hot. If they are running all over the place & eating & drinking, they are fine.
Good info for beginners:
http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/chapter-4-caring-for-baby-chicks.aspx

 

[Cashie]

Sadly, I lost the little Star chick overnight.

The Rhode Island chick seems to be doing fine, energetic, eating and drinking and probably lonely. My cat is accustomed to chicks, chickens and birds so I left the brooder and the cat (the cat can't get inside the brooder, no worries, but they can look at each other) in the house while I'm at work and my daughter will look in on them from time to time.

I'm calling the feed store today. I believe the black sex link was already ill when we bought her.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Quote:
Oh, I am so sorry. That is terrible. I know how much that hurts.

I would definitely tell the feed store. You just brought them home. There is no reason those chicks should have died unless they were already ill, and shame on them for even selling them. I would be persistant and insist that they give you two replacements for free. If all 3 had died, they might argue that you might have done something wrong, but since the one is thriving as they should, then it is most likely that they gave you sickly chicks.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but when they give you 2 more, make sure they are the most energetic of the bunch. And don't leave until you are completely satisfied.
You should pick up some Sav-A-Chik or other vitamin/electrolyte solution that can be added to water, and maybe some sort of antibiotics for poultry while you are there. It is always a good idea to have those things on hand just in case, because you know those darn animals are going to need it at the most inopportune times, like holidays & weekends.
Good luck, and I hope your new ones are healthy & strong. Keep me posted on your babies progress.

 

[Cashie]

Quote:
Oh, I am so sorry. That is terrible. I know how much that hurts.

I would definitely tell the feed store. You just brought them home. There is no reason those chicks should have died unless they were already ill, and shame on them for even selling them. I would be persistant and insist that they give you two replacements for free. If all 3 had died, they might argue that you might have done something wrong, but since the one is thriving as they should, then it is most likely that they gave you sickly chicks.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but when they give you 2 more, make sure they are the most energetic of the bunch. And don't leave until you are completely satisfied.
You should pick up some Sav-A-Chik or other vitamin/electrolyte solution that can be added to water, and maybe some sort of antibiotics for poultry while you are there. It is always a good idea to have those things on hand just in case, because you know those darn animals are going to need it at the most inopportune times, like holidays & weekends.
Good luck, and I hope your new ones are healthy & strong. Keep me posted on your babies progress.

Thank you so much, Celtic. Yeah, it was very sad to see those little ones go. I called the feed store and they are saying none of their chicks are sick and it must be something I did. I do find that hard to believe since the first chick got sick and died so quickly after getting them home. Poor little thing. I tried my best to make her comfortable (picture my daughter and I taking turns cupping her in our hands her to keep her warm and comfie).

The feed store is also recommending that I keep straw in the cage, however, I'm seeing the opposite advice on these forums. I tend to believe what I read here more than the people at the store, but when we had chickens growing up, my family kept straw in the brooder, so I'm not sure which advice is correct.

 

[Celtic Chick]

I have absolutely no doubt that you did the best you possibly could for your babies, cashie. And that feed store is just terrible to say what they did. They are so in the wrong. Do you know anyone else that may have gotten chicks from there? You should see if they had the same problem. Then the store would have to listen if more than one person had the same complaint.
Check on Craig's List to see if there is anyone else locally that sells chicks near you. I would definitely get some littermates for your RIR.
Straw is not a bad or incorrect litter to use for poultry, but pine shavings is a better, more healthy one. Straw is ok somewhere where there is little to no chance of it getting wet. Many people use it in their coops or nest boxes. But since chicks run around and traipse through their water dishes on a regular basis, straw is not the best choice since it can get moldy so quickly.