Lost two chicks due to frost last night :(

[JessaLynn]

I lost two of our 7week old chicks, 1 was a Welsummer pullet and other was a Buff Cochin Pullet.It droped down to 38 last night and they were to cold.We have 50 chicks out in the coop and all huddled together and those had gotten sufficated I believe.So sad! They are fully feathered out, have been for 2 weeks now and thought they would be fine, my mistake.My daughter had a ballet recital yesterday from 9am-9pm and didn't even go out and check on them.I could kick myself.Lesson learned for sure!!

 

[Ewe Mama2]

I'm so sorry for your loss. It's amazing how losses can occur even when everything should be "ok".

It certainly did get surprisingly cold last night. (We're in Oberlin, OH, so the chill caught us by surprise, too).

Check on your little ones tonight and enjoy the hopefully warmer days ahead.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Soo Sad!! Sorry that happened!!

 

[Steve_of_sandspoultry]

Sorry for your loss, it got down in the 40's here last night. That's BRRRRRR cold for eastern NC this time of year- a couple days ago it was in the upper 80's and 60's at night. It figures to we just moved some quail, pheasants and turkey poults out the the brooder barn.

Do you have a roost for them? We start from about 2 weeks old start putting roosts in the brooder box, once they get the idea to roost they won't huddle and smother.

Steve in NC

 

[JessaLynn]

Thank you all for your kind words.They have had a roost since they were in the brooder but some just prefer to huddle I guess.I'm glad it wasn't my fav's that had died or I would really be upset.We have an EE possible roo that I just love.It comes right to me and will perch on my arm.I haven't had a friendly one like this in 3 years so this is a treat.I have two EE's and their both friendly but this one is the most.I love them so much that I have 4 more coming thursday.We have buff, white, blue, patridge Cochin's, Delawares, blue Wyandottes, red and black sexlinks, welsummers, buff orpingtons and Easter egger's.I like variety

I really hope the cold is near over with

I'm really getting tired of it

 

[JessaLynn]

GRRR I lost two more last night!!! What the heck! This time it was two black sexlinks.I found them behind the feed bag we have in the coop.Another suffication.Dagonit!!

I moved the bags out of there and I'm gonna have my husband put some more perches in there becuz this is nuts!!
That and their feeder was empty when I just filled it yesterday full! How can those little ones consume so much in a short time? I have never had such big eaters my gosh!!

 

[georgialee]

Have you thought about having a heat lamp in there until the nights start warming up a bit? Sorry about your losses.

 

[toletiquesbysam]

Are you sure something else is not getting them and eating the food as well? Rats?? Check for droppings in the coop.

 

[Cetawin]

I am so sorry for you loss. they need a heat lamp..they do not fully feather out until at a minimum 8 weeks but usually 10...they just cannot handle low temps.

 

[JessaLynn]

I don't have electricity out there it's to far from our house.No signs of an attack, blood,wounds, nothing.They were found together and kinda smooshed so that's why I say it was sufficataion.Our coop is pretty predator proof (fenced buried, and covered over top) No signs of anything else.

Edited to say: Temps are warming up more at night in 50's.