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

[rancher hicks]

Ok so this is what I did.

A quick search of the weather and temps in assorted places in TN. In the 40's. Not great for chicks.

1. all chickens need water 24/7. Especially chicks

2. Broody hens will need to stay indoors where they themselves can stay warm and out of the weather.

3. Broody hens can eat grower since they are not laying. BUT chicks CAN NOT eat layer for numerous reasons. DO NOT give a hen medicated feed.

4. While Silkies may make good broodies they are not large enough to completely cover many chicks.

5. Silkie chicks may be more fragile than heavier breeds.

6. Broody hens and chicks should be separated from the flock if possible or at least have a place all to themselves.

7. If you have not read up on how to keep chicks you might want to check out books from the local public library and read up.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[ChickieBooBoo]

If the temp is in the 40s, a broody silkie might not be enough to keep them warm. Silkies don't have feathers like other breeds, they are not as warm. Any drafts will blow right through a silkies feathers and chill the chicks.

Secondly, layer feed should never be fed to chicks. The extra calcium is bad for them. Give all of them, including the mother, chick starter or grower. I can't buy unmedicated feed at my feed store so both hen and chicks get medicated, I've never had any problems.

Again, like the others said, we need more information to help you.

smilies aren't giving us any information besides that you are upset.

 

[MedChicken]

How old are they? My most recent batch (silkie mixes hatched 11/19) grew up outside under a broody here in Virginia. They went out on their own in a grow-out coop at age 5 weeks (ish) around Christmas. It has gotten down to the 20s at times and they're doing great outside - active, hungry and growing like weeds! If they're only a week old, they may need to come in, but if they're closer to a month or two it seems like they ought to do just fine outside.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

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.

im sorry, im overwhelmed and am having trouble reading all these post and still trying to answer the questions. she does a fine job keeping them warm. even if i wanted to take mama out and replace her with a heat lamp i cant. i have a very bad luck with heat lamps and they all keep completly dieing on me, and dont want to work to keep my poor babies warm

we have bought three with in the last 3 months and all have died. PLUS my mom wont let me bring them in because "their smelly, loud, and gross" (she says) one of them is almost completly feathered but the others are not as close.

the lavender chick died on wednesday, and the other died today.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

smilies aren't giving us any information besides that you are upset.

i think ive given more information then just smiles

 

[nurse_turtle]

There is NOTHING more imperative to successfully raising a happy, healthy flock of chickens than KNOWLEDGE and RESEARCH. This must be done PRIOR to allowing chicks to hatch. Responsible hatching is a requirement for a good chicken owner. Please, please, please study and research the care of chickens from egg to adult. There are really good books available at the public library or even your school library. If you're serious about chicken raising, save your allowance or offer to do extra chores for money and save up to buy a good resource book on chicken raising. There are many cheaper used books available on amazon or ebay. Before your next chick adventure, please collect more knowledge and instruction so all these chicks aren't doomed from the hatch.

 

[rancher hicks]

It does seem strange that the lights keep breaking. You might want to see if there is a reason. Surely it can't be the bulbs themselves. If they break after a short time then you might want to take them back to the store.

If you can build a small corral area in the coop or barn for the broody and her chicks. Give her lots of hay for a nest and at evening time take a large clean empty jug, say a cat litter jug or something like that , and fill it with hot water to place in the area of where she is with her chicks. Don't put it right up against her but in the box/corral area. Make sure her boxed area has a top to hold the heat in. You can even use a large cardboard box.

I wish you well,

Rancher

 

[nurse_turtle]

Quote:
I knew I remembered this OP from an earlier post about the light bulb. If your light bulb wattage is more than your lamp source allows, it will blow every time! Please check the maximum wattage allowed by your lamp before buying an appropriate bulb that will last its normal expectancy.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

Quote:
ok, thanks! i will try this. thank you.

 

[DUCKGIRL89]

and BTW, i did months of research before i even THOUGHT about getting chickens, im not the only one who makes mistakes, am I?