Lost a 7wk old chick last night......

[LittleRedCoopLady]

So, one of my chicks didn’t make it into the coop last night. He stayed all night in the covered run alone. It got down into the 50’s where I live. Is this too cold for a 7wk old chick? He’d had all his tail feathers plucked out a few weeks ago and when I found him it looked as though they had plucked the newly growing tail feathers again. But it didn’t look like a lethal injury. That’s why I’m thinking he may have gotten too cold. Any thoughts? He was otherwise healthy and was the friendliest chick I had. He always came running up to me when I came in the coop or run.

 

[nao57]

So, one of my chicks didn’t make it into the coop last night. He stayed all night in the covered run alone. It got down into the 50’s where I live. Is this too cold for a 7wk old chick? He’d had all his tail feathers plucked out a few weeks ago and when I found him it looked as though they had plucked the newly growing tail feathers again. But it didn’t look like a lethal injury. That’s why I’m thinking he may have gotten too cold. Any thoughts? He was otherwise healthy and was the friendliest chick I had. He always came running up to me when I came in the coop or run.

Wow. 50s in Indiana in July?

I wonder what it will be like in September and October there temperature wise.

It could be a lot of things together; stress, lost feathers, damage, depression and loneliness.

Them being alone and isolated I think invites trouble even for larger birders. They depend on their social network in the herd for comfort and safety.

A lot of us try to isolate and bring inside injured or pecked checks (with a partner chick) when something likes this happen to avoid this kind of stuff.

I'm really sorry this happened to you. But I hope you don't give up on the project.

 

[M Brennen]

I would worry that they were plucking it for a reason, like maybe it was not that healthy? Also, how did it not make it into the coop? Was it being deliberately kept out by the others? I wouldn’t think it would be too cold for a bird that is all feathered out, but don’t know for sure. So sorry for your loss. It’s always the favorite one that dies.

 

[nao57]

I would worry that they were plucking it for a reason, like maybe it was not that healthy? Also, how did it not make it into the coop? Was it being deliberately kept out by the others? I wouldn’t think it would not be too cold for a bird that is all feathered out, but don’t know for sure. So sorry for your loss. It’s always the favorite one that dies.

I also wonder how it didn't get noticed being out?

I always make sure all my birds are in at night, because I don't want deaths. Sorry to say this, I hope it doesn't make anyone feel bad. But talking about it is how you learn from it so you can improve and have a good experience the next time.

 

[M Brennen]

I also wonder how it didn't get noticed being out?

I always make sure all my birds are in at night, because I don't want deaths. Sorry to say this, I hope it doesn't make anyone feel bad. But talking about it is how you learn from it so you can improve and have a good experience the next time.

I also count my birds every night (tuck then in, you might say) and then shut the door to the run. Some nights I have to push a few stragglers inside.

 

[lovesfarms]

So sorry for your loss! Nao57 pretty much covered my thoughts as well. You still feel the loss, no matter how old the chick. To bad us humans learn after something happens rather then before!

 

[LittleRedCoopLady]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone yes, he was housed within the coop for a week while his tail feather injury healed. He was able to see everyone, they just couldn’t get to him to pick at him. I put Blue Kote on his injury. He’d been out and with everyone running around for a good two weeks with no incidents until last night. I’m usually very diligent about counting all twenty chicks, but of course last night just did an overall look, but no counting heads like I usually do. Lesson learned Thanks again for all the feedback!

 

[M Brennen]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone yes, he was housed within the coop for a week while his tail feather injury healed. He was able to see everyone, they just couldn’t get to him to pick at him. I put Blue Kote on his injury. He’d been out and with everyone running around for a good two weeks with no incidents until last night. I’m usually very diligent about counting all twenty chicks, but of course last night just did an overall look, but no counting heads like I usually do. Lesson learned Thanks again for all the feedback!

Sometimes you just never know what happened.

 

[nao57]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone yes, he was housed within the coop for a week while his tail feather injury healed. He was able to see everyone, they just couldn’t get to him to pick at him. I put Blue Kote on his injury. He’d been out and with everyone running around for a good two weeks with no incidents until last night. I’m usually very diligent about counting all twenty chicks, but of course last night just did an overall look, but no counting heads like I usually do. Lesson learned Thanks again for all the feedback!

Actually I didn't realize you had 20...that's hard to count right. When I'm counting 10 of them its hard to make sure I've done it right also because they literally don't stop moving.

Sorry.

 

[thepick4uchicks]

So, one of my chicks didn’t make it into the coop last night. He stayed all night in the covered run alone. It got down into the 50’s where I live. Is this too cold for a 7wk old chick? He’d had all his tail feathers plucked out a few weeks ago and when I found him it looked as though they had plucked the newly growing tail feathers again. But it didn’t look like a lethal injury. That’s why I’m thinking he may have gotten too cold. Any thoughts? He was otherwise healthy and was the friendliest chick I had. He always came running up to me when I came in the coop or run.

I’m very sorry to hear this sad news. Being down in the 50’s is not terrible for a fully feathered chick but it sounds like he probably wasn’t. I would not have felt comfortable with mine being outside alone three weeks ago in the 50’s but I feel they could have survived. My girls are 10 weeks old and big breeds of birds and really look almost fully matured except for gaining a few more pounds that is all they lack. They have all their feathers- mostly. They are still turning over some and getting more but getting fuller also. I have looked at pictures of other people’s pics and compared at ages though and it seems my girls are big for their age and that is all 9 and I have three hens a piece each of three different breeds and they are all larger. I think it’s because I have left food down all the time for them too. I believe that mine would have made it over night in your situation if nothing else health wise was going on. I’m thinking with his tail feather issue that he could have had another health problem going on as an underlying problem and being outside at those temps pushed him over the edge. He could have been anemic and not have been eating good or absorbing his food and getting the nutrients from it like normal. ???