Losing meaties to Smothering?

[chickenfeverforever]

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Trust me, This isnt my first rodeo with chicks. They are not to hot and they are not to cold. They for some reason just feel the need to pile on top of eachother and form a mosh pit!!! lol.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

We've had the Meatie Mosh Pit in nasty hot weather. I swear, they tend to just be less than smart. Never have figured out why they pile on each other.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

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Good to know its not just my meaties!!!

 

[Brunty_Farms]

A lot of times they will pile before night falls too. Just trying to help... usually there is some reason for the piling just have to pin point whats causing it.

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

There are times you can figure out why they pile up - too wet, too cold, something is scary....

Then there are the times when the meaties are just stupid - I figure if it is 85* outside, dry and the other birds are happily bopping around the yard, the mosh pit is just because the meaties are stupid.

 

[bigredfeather]

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Something is causing them to do it. They don't do it because they're stupid. That just doesn't make any sense. I agree with Jeff that they either cold or there is a draft. At 1-2 weeks, they should still be in the brooder. These other birds of yours that are happily bopping around, how old are they?

 

[ChickenAlgebra]

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Something is causing them to do it. They don't do it because they're stupid. That just doesn't make any sense. I agree with Jeff that they either cold or there is a draft. At 1-2 weeks, they should still be in the brooder. These other birds of yours that are happily bopping around, how old are they?

I don't have meaties right now, mine all have been processed.

However, the meaties WERE piling up at 7 weeks old, so fully feathered, full sized and otherwise normal. The flock running around ranged from 10 years old to at the time erm I think there were some 4 week olds. Maybe a little younger, but I don't think that broody was having her babies wander too far yet. When the hyper protective broody is letting her 4 week old chicks run around, I really figure it's not too cold or hot, it's not too wet and there isn't anything scary in chicken minds.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

Im telling you, Mine were in a brooder and were neither hot nor cold. I have had chicks int he same brooder in the same location with the same heat and never had any pile like this so I have to assume its the breed and not my brooder set up.

 

[bigredfeather]

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I certainly believe what you're saying is true, however, I have to wonder why the CX that myself and everyone else raises has not had this happen to them unless they are cold or scared. Please don't think I'm doubting you, but I can tell you there's a reason other than it a breed characteristic. I'm sorry I can't help you and sorry if I have offended you.

 

[chickenfeverforever]

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I certainly believe what you're saying is true, however, I have to wonder why the CX that myself and everyone else raises has not had this happen to them unless they are cold or scared. Please don't think I'm doubting you, but I can tell you there's a reason other than it a breed characteristic. I'm sorry I can't help you and sorry if I have offended you.

You did not offend me. And 2 other people have already chimed in and said they have seem the same thing with Meaties and Cold or hot was not a factor. Someone said it could just be the group of birds I have. So I am going with that and the breed, Maybe I will have different results in the fall.