Negligence... what do you think will happen?

[andisgarden]

I watered and fed my chicks last night before bed. I woke up this morning and they were totally out of food and their water was bone dry. I added water with vitamins to help them and they drank like crazy. They were less interested in the food, it was scattered on the floor so I doubt they were hungry.

Did I kill them? I am devastated. I got a bigger waterer so this wouldn't happen but, it had several inches in it when I went to bed. I had no idea 5 week old chicks could drink and eat so much. I am filling their feeder 2-3 times a day, is this normal? I have 30 chicks.

Thank you for your help

 

[laurenlulu]

I've noticed that the water evaporates quickly in the heat of the brooder, especially if the heat lamp is aimed near it.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

I currently have 2 chicks and am filling their cat food can of food two or three times a day. Granted Sam has been scratching in it and throwing it all over the brooder.
I check their water when I walk by and so far just fill that once a day. It is also a cat food can.

My big girls get their food refilled morning and night. Water is the same this time of the year. I am getting a larger waterer shortly. 1 gallon for the 5 grown hens is not going to cut it come summer

 

[willheveland]

Quote:
They should be ok now,but try not to do this anymore.For that many at that age you should have about a three gallon waterer.It's amazing how much they drink. Will

 

[CityClucks]

30 c h i c k s will go through a lot of food and water. I have 12 pullets - 6 weeks old - and I fill a 2 quart feeder about 1.5 times and a 1 quart waterer about 3 times in a 24 hour period. Little munchers!

 

[warmfuzzies]

I have 15 chicks, and there water seems to run out almost every time I go down there. I am really bad about catching it. But, they drink like crazy when I refill it, even if they still had some. I think they just like the fresh water.

I think I need to get a gallon waterer.

 

[Jena]

Quote:
This is confusing.

Are they dead? or are you worried that they may die due to the effects of going without?

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
What type and size if your feeder? It is possible on the long tray style feeder to fill it that many times. I had 22 and one long feeder and it got filled 3 times per day. Chicks also waste al lot of food. They are not as big about picking up off the ground at that age either.

 

[sherrydeanne]

I'm guessing they're just fine

If they were day olds, I would have worried. But yes, chickens eat and drink a ton. It may be time to move them up to the big girl waterer, especially since you have so many.

 

[andisgarden]

Sorry I was confusing. No, they are not dead. I am just so worried after all of this babying I have been doing for 5 weeks that I might have killed them.

I have a 1 gallon water in there and a long 14 hole tray feeder. I raised the feeder a bit and the was seems to be a little less. I raised the water last week but the birds are getting so heavy that they were knocking it over I guess I need something a little bigger to raise it on.

I didn't realize these little guys and gals would be such a messy group. The only animal experience I had is various rodents, dogs and cats. Chicks seem to be much more demanding at first. I am getting the hang of it though. I lost 2 so far and it was 1-3 days after I got them, they were both Polish.