Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder (Picture Heavy) - UPDATE

[Jensownzoo]

Sigh. Two more dead chicks this morning I think one was the one that wouldn't eat, she was under MHP and then the other was over by the feeders and waterer. So weird. Praying for no more losses

Do I need to be concerned? Like something is sickening them? With the BO dropping dead the other day and now this other seemingly healthy one dead by the feeders??

Well, the belly button chick and the not-eating chick's deaths were surprises, but explainable. One unexplainable death certainly could be due to a congenital abnormality, so I won't worry yet because I'm sure you've double-, triple-, quadruple-checked everything to make sure there aren't obvious reasons. If another one passes away without apparent cause, THEN I would do things like buy a new bag of feed, replace bedding material, etc.

 

[aart]

OhBummerBlooie!!! I hate when that happens, find it's often best to stop looking.
You'll remember just as you drift off to sleep tonite, BANG you'll picture it's exact location with startling clarity, then sleep with sweet cheeping dreams.


Not sure why we need a poll about using a heating pad for brooding, no matter what it's called....
....are we caucusing for a majority election? forming a cult? or just wanting to take a count of who on BYC uses a pad instead of a lamp?

I just share my ideas about all sorts of stuff, including the pad, I've made for chickening where ever I see a need, folks can take it or leave it.<shrugs>

 

[MesMama]

So sorry. Not what you hope for. Were they chirping a lot? Did they appear to be growing?

What a bummer

Thank you <3 They were just chirping quietly scratching around doing their chicken stuff. I have one that goes on top of mama and chirps its fool head off for a sec and then goes about its business. I haven't been able to be out there a lot today as we had church and then lunch at my mother in laws house, so I'm not sure if that's one that died or whether it's still doing that. I'm going down there to watch for awhile now.

They all appeared to be growing well, both today had wing feathers growing in. It's so hard to tell if they're physically bigger just because I don't have anything to compare them to And they're still pretty small. My 3 SLW's don't have near the wing feathers that the others do.
I'm trying not to panic or get scared. My mom seems to think that's it's alarming?? I'm more taking what I've read knowing sometimes they just die. No one acts sickly??

 

[MesMama]

Well, the belly button chick and the not-eating chick's deaths were surprises, but explainable. One unexplainable death certainly could be due to a congenital abnormality, so I won't worry yet because I'm sure you've double-, triple-, quadruple-checked everything to make sure there aren't obvious reasons. If another one passes away without apparent cause, THEN I would do things like buy a new bag of feed, replace bedding material, etc.

Yeah I've tried to think of everything. No one has pasty butt anymore. No obvious trauma. The one from this morning that was laying by the feeders wasn't caught in anything, belly button was fine, just laying there like the BO from the other day.
The feed I just got from Azure, Scratch and Peck brand. Not that it couldn't be old?

I wondered if it came out of the MHP like when it was dark (one of the BO's dos that the first night and I heard it chirping loudly so went out to the living room area where we had them and tucked her back under. So maybe it got cold? Honestly I don't know. I'm trying to not jump to conclusions, especially when no one (well besides the non eating chick) has acted weird or sick at all. And even that non eating chick had wing feathers growing in.

 

[Jensownzoo]

.The feed I just got from Azure, Scratch and Peck brand. Not that it couldn't be old?
.

Are they getting chick grit with this?

And it's not necessarily that it's old...there are several things that can go wrong during the mixing process. It's not likely in your case since I would expect that more chicks would be affected, but it is one thing that's simple to address if nothing else can be figured out.

 

[MesMama]

Are they getting chick grit with this?

And it's not necessarily that it's old...there are several things that can go wrong during the mixing process. It's not likely in your case since I would expect that more chicks would be affected, but it is one thing that's simple to address if nothing else can be figured out.

It's a chick starter, sorry didn't specify that

 

[Jensownzoo]

It's a chick starter, sorry didn't specify that

The one that I've seen is made from cracked grains...if this is what you have, add grit. If is the usual crumble, then they don't need it.

 

[MesMama]

The one that I've seen is made from cracked grains...if this is what you have, add grit. If is the usual crumble, then they don't need it.

Yeah it has the cracked grains Well crap! I can't get chick grit around here, I've looked so I will have it on hand for later. How soon do I need to get it to them? I think my mom has some, so I could get it tomorrow from her

 

[Jensownzoo]

Did you do the clod of grass/dirt yet? Can't remember. Unless you have icky clay soil like I do, that should have sand and small grit enough...just go dig them one up until you can get some from mom.

 

[aart]

Quote: Look at the label of ingredients, it might have grit in it. the cracked grain started from our mill had chick sized grit mixed in.

If it was lack of grit, wouldn't crop be bulging?

Sorry you lost some chicks, it does happen sometimes....how old are chicks?
No idea what the big died from?
Did chicks die after moving out of house into coop?