My chicks keep dieing! What am I doing wrong?!

[deserthotwings]

So sorry for your lose, but we need a lot more info. How old are your chicks, how are they housed, what temp do you keep them at, do you add electrolytes to water, do you use medicated feed? Any more information will be helpful.

 

[Peachesbabychick]

WHAT?!?! Another one died? When did this happen? I am so sorry. Did you text me? I wouldn't have gotten it because my mom was out of town this week end. Which ones do you have left? It is so hard, but try to be strong. Keep your chin up. Love Peaches

 

[SteveBaz]

DUCKGIRL89 there only a few reasons babies die unexpectedly. They are too hot, They do not have access to water and they have no air or ventilation from the heat and they are overly hot. Are they in a glass fish tank? Do you have a tiny fan blowing the heat around? Do they have enough room to get away from the heat if it gets to hot? They will crowd together under the light if there is not enough heat and are to cold. They will circle the heat source if its to hot. They will pant if they do not have enough ventilation. They will die without water and food. If they have some type coccidiosis they will die one after the other so are they on medicated chick feed?

DUCKGIRL89 for us to be able to help you I need for you to answer some or all of the questions I asked you. So please try and answer my questions and I will give you some answers but you need to answer for us to help. OK? There is not enough information to help. OK?

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

Ditto to what everyone else said, we can't really tell with that information.

-How old are they?
-What temp are you keeping them at? Are there any drafts?
-Do they have water ALL the time?
-Are they on medicated feed?

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

they have water 99% of the time. except yesterday we were out and i forgot to water them again before we left. usually two refils does it for the whole day. i feel so bad that it died

they live under a broody hen (buff silkie) they have been outside most of their life.

they do not eat medicated. they eat crushed layer with there mom. is this ok?

Peaches: all i have are the three blacks

 

[MedChicken]

I have read that eating layer feed is very bad for chicks, but I imagine it depends on whether it is their sole ration (i.e. if the broody is teaching them to forage). As I understand it, if they are living solely on layer feed, the excess calcium destroys their kidneys while the lack of protein slows their growth. Perhaps someone more experienced than I am will have some more insight on this.

How many chicks have died, and how far apart? If they all died within a few hours or a day of being without water, it would seem that this might be the culprit. If the problem started before the water shortage, though, that seems less likely. If excess calcium from eating layer feed damaged their kidneys, losing their water supply could be the final blow, taking them to full-blown kidney failure and death.

When you refill the waterer, is it empty? They need to have access to water 24/7, so if it's empty when you refill it, either they need a bigger waterer or it needs to be refilled more often.

When you watch them outside with the broody, are they huddled up together under her (like they're too cold) or running around?

Did they have bloody stool (coccidiosis)? Pasty butt (constipation)? Were they sneezing (respiratory infection)? Any signs of mites, lice or worms?

 

[ChickenPrnces]

Quote:
I have been told the same thing about the layer pellet for babies! I was told absolutely positively never give it to chickens that have not reached laying age! It will wreck thier kidneys!!!

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

oh dang!!!! they do look small for their age!

looks like im picking up some medicated.

 

[SteveBaz]

Quote:
DUCKGIRL89 you are posting but still not answering some really important questions being asked and if you do that you will see some concrete answers for you to assist you in stopping this terrible roll of losing the entire flock of chicks. Medicated chick feed is an important as water for young birds it helps give them them the food to survive and the nutrients to fight off cocci and other diseases young birds get. A proper thermometer will help with controlling the temperature for the age of the chix. Measuring the temperature is important bc the hen if not doing her job needs to be removed and you take over. How old the chix are is important so you know what temperature to help keep them warm but no warmer than the age requires. week1 85 degrees, week 2 80 degrees, week 3 75 degrees, week 4 70 degrees and so on by reducing the temp by 5 degrees up to the 7th week which they should be fully feathered and need no more heat after that forever.

 

[MedChicken]

Switching to chick feed is probably a good idea. You may also want to consider molasses or apple cider vinegar in their water if you are seeing pasty butt. In the meantime, you might consider feeding them yogurt, bread, hard-boiled eggs, etc. and LOTS of water. If their kidneys have been damaged they will be THIRSTY. If that is the case, they may also continue to die even after you change their feed because their kidneys have already been damaged beyond repair.

I disagree with SteveBaz on the thermometer. I don't think a thermometer is as important as watching the chicks' behavior. If they are huddled under the broody or on top of each other, they are too cold. If they are spread out and sluggish, they may be too hot. If you pay attention, they will tell you what temperature they want to be.

But please do give us more information, so we can help!