more chick questions

[jimz1]

A couple of them are just siting there doing nothing. Their wings are open a little at there side. They almost look like the one that is (I think dying), but when I pick it up it starts squirming around. Do you think it was just resting?

 

[AKsmama]

Sometimes when they hold their wings out, it means they're too hot. Do you have a thermometer in the brooder?

 

[maple]

I don't know the circumstances about the other one you say died. But if your chicks are under a heat lamp...they do like to "sun" themselves and stretch out thier wings and kinda lay on thier sides and relish in the warmth. Without knowing more this is just a suggestion of what could be happening.

Where'd you get them? What was the circumstance of first chicks death? Symptoms? Where they shipped? Sometimes you get a couple of losses in shipping/trauma/stress... How old are they? How are you caring for them...are they inside/outside/lights? Are they huddled together or happily spread out?

More information is needed.

 

[jimz1]

I had one in there ,took it out when I put the chicks in, now I just put it back. When I took it out it was at 90

 

[maple]

A thermometer is a must. That's a great suggestion. If they are spread out to the edges of brooder and avoiding the heat lamp then it's too hot.

 

[N&MSchroeder]

They will be very tired and stressed from shipping. Make sure that the temperature is right (90-95) and that each chick has drank. (If their wings are open, they may be too hot) As I put them in the brooder, I dip each chick's beak in water, so I know they have had something. I added poultry vitamins/electrolytes to the water, but I know other people have added sugar to the water for the first day. Good luck for your new additions!

 

[Fred's Hens]

Most of the time, it is just plain too hot, with no where to go to cool off. Get your temps down to 80-85 and they will love you for it.

 

[jimz1]

I got them from Townline Hatchery. They were shipped on the 30th. The first one died, probably suffocated. It was pretty well flattened out in the box. The other one lookes a little better than when I first took it out.I have them in a "brooder" inside kinda with a heat lamp. The brooder is a styrofoam cooler that is 43"longX12" acrossx12" deep.
I just checked the temp and it's at 90 now

 

[maple]

Do a search on here...some people put electrolytes in the water...there's stuff you can buy for that and in a pinch I think people have used gatorade...but do a search.

 

[AKsmama]

They're going to eat the brooder; chickens love styrofoam. (They're not the brightest animals on the planet.) Do you have anything else you can use as a brooder- a big plastic tub, big tin tub, anything like that? You don't want them filling up on styrofoam rather than their food.