Losing a chick a day on average... please HELP!

[B. Saffles Farms]

From what I read in your post, the only thing I can think of is the cedar shavings. Like ranchhand said not eveyone agrees about the cedar shavings, I have used them on adult animals in a Well Vented area, without problems. But not with chicks. Besides pine is usually much cheaper too. If you dont have any other shavings I would take the cedar out and put down paper towels.

 

[StillwaterCreek]

Wow. Well, to say you all have been helpful would be a mild understatement! I'm heading in there right now to get rid of the cedar, and I've got some pine shavings on the way.

I hate to think we've been "gassing" these chicks... for all our babying them and attentive care, that's hard to deal with.

 

[B. Saffles Farms]

Quote:
Its a learning expierence. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. Look at it this way, when your other chicks arrive in May youll know what not to do.

 

[StillwaterCreek]

Quote:
Indeed. It's amazing what I've learned in the past week and a half. The brooder I have now is temporary, and I've changed the design for the two larger ones I'm about to build at least 3-4 times already!

Thanks again, everyone.

 

[dustysangel]

could it be the cedar shavings,Someone? I know cedar causes respiratory problems in some animals. I saw antibiotics that yoiu put in water yesterday at the feed store, does that have something that would help the coccidiosis? Sorry to butt in might be something else to think of. Ang

 

[Lmarie]

I would definately get rid of the cedar shavings. we use kiln dried aspen shavings, because of no harmful odors, which are lethal to baby chicks. I would get them another brooder with out cedar shavings and maybe some medicated feed and see if they improve. I am very sorry for your loss.

 

[ranchhand]

I just got back from TSC, and they had pine shavings in all the brooder tanks at this store.

In fact, I got some. I've always used newspaper, but it has to be changed 5 times a day! Very messy, and since I have a hatch happening, I decided to try the shavings. I DID notice that the bag says 100% wood shavings- NOT pine shavings. But there is no cedar there, I'd recognize it.

I am going to do what William said- shavings, 5 layers of paper towels and remove a layer daily. Thanks, William!

Stillwater, I hope it works out for you. Unless the new chicks are vaccinated at the hatchery, it would be a good idea to put them on the med. starter. My TSC carries it. Meanwhile, get the current chicks off the cedar and see if that helps.

Hoping for the best,
Sally

 

[cyanne]

Did you say CEDAR shavings? If so, please take that stuff out right away, cedar shavings are toxic to chickens.

The shavings you should be using are the kiln-dried pine shavings like they use for horse bedding. You can find them in large bags fairly cheap at any feed store or tractor supply.

Also, make sure your brooder has a good variety of temp...95 is fine in one area as long as they can get far away from there if they start to overheat.

 

[PoultryPedia]

Moving the heat lamp so it's at one of the brooder and pointed just downward can provide a broader range of temperatures in your existing brooder.
Best!

 

[StillwaterCreek]

Did you say CEDAR shavings? If so, please take that stuff out right away, cedar shavings are toxic to chickens.

OKOK! I think we have a consensus of opinion here...

Also, make sure your brooder has a good variety of temp...95 is fine in one area as long as they can get far away from there if they start to overheat.

At the moment it's about 83 in the middle of the brooder. Probably 90 at one end (under the lamp) and 75ish at the other. They're not huddling together as if cold, nor are they always at the far end, away from the lamp. I think I'm OK temp-wise.​