Just found a dead chick.... :(

[CowgirlMama]

Just went out to check my chicks that I got yesterday, and found one of my Black Australorps dead under the heat lamp... I know it hasn't been too cold (been checking every hour or two, and its consistently around 95- altho its gotten up to 100 a couple times...) And I was just out there a couple hours ago and everyone was doing fine- eating, drinking etc... I had 3 chicks with pasty butt this morning, but the one that died wasn't one of them...

I'm using a meat thermometer to keep track of temp (its completely metal), will it read a higher temp because its metal and is continuously under the heat lamp? I'm a little worried about the 100 degree readings... and I did find the chick right under the heat lamp where its warmest... the others all seem to be doing fine (but they were all fine a couple hours ago... Any ideas on why this little guy might have gone? I know it could be stress... I'm just hoping its not something that I can control... I wouldn't be so sad if it had been one of the NHRs or Sex Links... but, maybe I can get some new chicks now...

 

[FMAFarms]

Sorry to hear about your chick.

Sometimes a seemingly healthy chick just doesn't make it past the stress of shipping. I would strongly suggest not using the meat thermometer in your brooder. There are brooder thermometers out there - TSC sells them and they're marked for the best temps for different types of poultry — and you might want to get a couple. Put one under the lamp, and put another in the brooder at the part farthest away from the lamp. This will give you a better idea of what temperature it is in there. Be sure that there's room for the chicks to get away from the heat. Good luck with your chicks!

 

[CowgirlMama]

Quote:
I'll look for a different thermometer. We don't have a TSC here, but have a couple other supply stores and I'll look online too. There are places where they can get out of the heat, I made sure of that...

I'm going to check them more often for awhile just to make sure though. Thanks!

 

[CowgirlMama]

Ok, so none of my local feed stores carries a "Brooder Thermometer"... is there any other type that I can use? Just a regular one (not a meat one)- like you'd hang outside on your porch? If someone could help asap- my hubby could get one when he gets off work... thanks!

 

[Huskeriowa]

Just go to Lowe's or Home Depot or any such place. Buy a couple of the least expensive they have. Buy more than one because they can be vastly different in their measurement of the temperature. I had two and found that one was reading fifteen degrees off of the other. They only cost about three dollars each. Good luck.

 

[ddmiddle7]

Any department store like walmart sells indoor/outdoor thermometers for two bucks they are 6 inches or so long and are perfect for a brooder.

 

[CowgirlMama]

Thanks everyone!

My hubby doesn't know it yet- but he will be stopping for a couple new thermometers tonight on his way home!

And maybe a couple more chickies....

(chicken math, right?!)