My week old baby chicks are dying??? Need advice

[chicky lady]

I am having an awful experience trying to raise baby chicks. I have done it years past with no problems yet this time they are all dying. I first had 25 chicks shipped to me and have only 10 of those left. I believe they had a rough shipping since they died early on. The company replaced them with a new order and they all looked healthy and happy but last night 14 of them died. I now only have 4 of those left. I followed all the guidelines proper heat, clean litter, fresh food and water. I just can't figure out what is happening to them. I don't think they have any diseases and I don't know what could be stressing them out. My kids are so upset and so am I. It is very heartbreaking to watch them die and not be able to help them. If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it. I am obvioulsy doing something wrong I just don't know what!

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Check their bottoms. If there is poop stuck there keep it clean. Pasty butt is rather common. The only other thing to check is that your not over heating them, use a thermometer to ensure your not over 95 F under the light and that they have enough space to move away from the heat if need to cool down. They will regulate their own heat need if given enough room to do so.

Those are two simple things that you probably already know but thought I'd throw it out there anyway. Good luck, it's sad when chicks don't make it. I'd two that didn't make it this last hatch and glad the kids weren't around as I disposed of them. They don't count them so never missed them.

 

[ChickenLover WI]

What Hatchery did you get them from if I may ask. I would order some new ones right away for your kids and you. I am so sorry to hear the bad news! I ordered 25 and they give 1 free rare so I was then getting 26 chicks all females besides the free one is a straight run and they gave me 28 chickens. There min order of chicks is 25 and ask for your free rare exotic chick. I got mine from Murray McMurray Hatchery mine were very healthy Mine were born at 4am on April 21/2012 and post office called me so did hatchery and said there were ready for me to pick them up at 1:30pm that same day! My rare one was a Golden Laced Wyandottes. We named it Snickerdoddles I think it is a male but to soon to know yet. You could even ask this hatchery what they think about why your died! I would never use that hatchery ever again. I hope this helps you and again so sorry for your loss. You can go on my profile and look at my pictures of my chickens.

 

[farmgirljd09]

i am so sorry to hear that.... i hope the hatchery you got them from did not give you some diseased babies... i agree with ChickenLover Wi and get some new ones right away for your lil ones from a reputable hatchery that double vaccinate and maybe you will have better luck.... i know McMurray is a good hatchery and have had great luck with them.... again so sorry for your loss, they are like our babies too... I sincerely hope you have better luck in the future and am crossing my fingers for you!!

take care and keep your spirits up!! if it helps, i am hatching out some that will be born on the 9th of May..... I am hatching out Buff Orpingtons, Black Stars, some Banties and could even hatch some for you if you needed some hatched.... this is only our second hatch, but my profile is our 1st hatch and they were all happy healthy Black stars, with a 2 whites??? how i don't know lol but they are gorgeous too.... must be the Roo....lol

just trying to help a fellow chicken lover...

 

[farmgirljd09]

sadly, i lost two as well on my first hatch, but i think the one was weak as it took a while for her to hatch and the other as well, but she had a broken leg from trying so hard to break out, so it was hard but we didn't think it was a fair life for her/him....... i ended up having to help the latter, but at that point it was so long that the leg had already been broken.... the first was weak from the get go.........it took her over 12 hrs to hatch as i did not want to intervene...normally our hens hatch our chicks, but we lost them so my husband bought me an incubator so i can hatch what i want and as many as i want as we have a 60 acre farm and a huge building that used to house hogs with a nursery and we converted it into my chicken house instead, so they free range during the day and come in at night. they are happy, healthy and such pets!!