Meat Chicks Arrived Yesterday :(

[cluckcluck42]

One more has died. Thankfully I got a hold of my father who is going to pick me up some supplies at the feed store before they close. This is not turning out to be a good experience so far.

 

[kasey08]

i'm sooo sorry!

 

[Chicken411]

Find out which hatchery and call them. Explain the symptoms. They may be able to help you. So sorry this is happening and I hope you get it figured out so the rest of your experience can be a good one.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Thanks, I'm trying not to get down- after all, death was their purpose from the start right? Still sucks, I took on this endeavour to give these birds a nice life before they had to meet their demise. Flopping over and dying at two days old hardly lives up to that.

 

[Dogfish]

Sounds like you are okay on feeders for now. Be ready to expand the number of feeders later to spread them around the pen instead of crushing to a single area. Less stress in your flock.

Heat sounds about right because they are spreading out, and your description of where they sleep, just anywhere as opposed to huddled under the light, sounds correct as well.

I bought my batches of chicks from the feed store, just like you, to insulate myself from the losses as part of shipping. I'm sorry that you are taking a hit on the birds, but you have genuine concern over their welfare and I don't see where you are doing anything different than I am. Sorry for your losses. I keep expecting to have a die off, but haven't had that happen, yet.

Keep your chin up.

 

[KatyTheChickenLady]

With the flipping it just sounds like weak chicks having heart attacks. I agree with Brunty your losses seem high but within the normal range. What is your loss count at now?

 

[cluckcluck42]

We are at 9 dead right now, I doubt that will be the last of them. I had no idea losses could be so high, so quick. Heart attack does make sense, poor things. I just pictured weak chicks sort of fading out of life instead of what happened. I'm glad we haven't failed them in any way.

I have switched to medicated feed, to be safe.

 

[cluckcluck42]

Quote:
Thank you.

If and when I do this again, I just pray this doesn't happen again. Really makes me want to raise my own dual purpose instead, these health problems are severe.

 

[uhuh555]

Sounds like an electrolyte imbalance. Get some water soluble vitamin with electrolytes from you local feed store and mix it according to directions and add 2 tablespoons of sugar per gallon to it. Use it as the only source of water. When ever we get chicks, ducks or poults by mail we give them pedialyte the first day as their only source of water. When rehydrating shipped chicks (or what ever) that hasn’t had water for a day or two, plain water can throw off the body’s electrolyte balance and cause what you are describing. Like some of the other posts here said there can be some losses the first few days. Good luck.

 

[scubaforlife]

We are 4 weeks in and are averaging 1 or 2 CXs dead per day. I haven't seen anything like it. They look fine, then look sickly, then die in about 12 hours.