New chicks

[MCreery]

Last year I started with 7 baby chicks from Tractor supply, build a massive coop/yard and now built a second. Out of the 7 originals, all did great, 2 roosters got re homed but 5 hens are doing awesome!! Set up my brooder same as last time and got 12 chicks from a local lady that hatches and sells. got 5 pullets, 5 silkies and 2 bantam frizzled. Picked them up Saturday, lost a Silkie Sunday AM, Bantam died later Sunday and now the other Blue silkie is struggling. I am doing everything the same as before....Dry, warm, clean.....I'm too OCD to not cover the bases. But now that the 3rd is fading, I have 2 questions. 1. If a chick is stuggling, won't eat, won't drink, just seems to fight to breath, Can it make a come back? 2. Since I was so lucky last year with 7, is this just nature? the other 9 are all running around, eating and drinking water....I set up a camera so I could see everything !! Thanks for feedback. Pic was taken first night.

 

[sourland]

Sometimes electrolyte supplementation can bring them back. Good luck.

 

[50-45-1]

Looks to me like they are cold. Huddled directly under the lamp. The huddling can sometimes smother the weakest chick.i would lower the lamp an inch or two . I guage needed heat by chick behavior not just the thermometer
I'm sure you are doing everything else. Electrolytes and vitamins in the water, watching for pasty butt.
The chicks look new. Are you sure they were not eating the small pieces of shavings.
I hope you dont loose any more.

 

[50-45-1]

How are your chicks doing?

 

[Mellowmalt]

If a chick dies within 24 hours it was most likely ill to start with. If it was ill to start with it might have already infected the others too. But they could have died from dehydration.
Do make sure they know where the waterer is. One of mine has drunk from the waterer but doesn't seem to like using it, much prefers a dish of water and I feel it would have dehydrated itself had I not provided a shallow dish on ground level with water in it.

 

[MCreery]

How are your chicks doing?

the 9 that we had left are doing awesome, even added 6 more yesterday and every one is doing great. The breeder did replace the 3 that passed. I think the ones that passed were just too weak from the beginning. they were only 2 days old.

 

[MCreery]

Looks to me like they are cold. Huddled directly under the lamp. The huddling can sometimes smother the weakest chick.i would lower the lamp an inch or two . I guage needed heat by chick behavior not just the thermometer
I'm sure you are doing everything else. Electrolytes and vitamins in the water, watching for pasty butt.
The chicks look new. Are you sure they were not eating the small pieces of shavings.
I hope you dont loose any more.

Temps were reading 95-100 under the lamp but they were so young. Everyones doing great now, have electrolytes in water and all are eating great. Even set up a camera in brooder so I can see them and what they have been up too!!