new to chicks (lenthy post!)

fanmer36

In the Brooder
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Hello everyone!I've recently decided to take a dive into bantams. I have no idea what kind they are. I picked up 3 at Rural King and then 2 (that have feathers on their feet) the next day at tractor supply. I have the heat lamp and have been raising it every week according to how old I think they are (which now is about Maybe 3 weeks?) Everything g I've found has been on "normal" size chickens I assume everything is similar but was wanting any kind of info I can get. I lost my favorite one yesterday (friday) morning. She just want growing even though I watched her eat and drink. They have all had a bout of pasty butt clearing up and then sometimes coming back in a couple days. The remaining 4 are thriving and running all over their brooder (which I have no idea what that means?) Anyway I'm worried now about another chick. When I went in to clean their pen it had poop stuck around its butt and looked like she was gasping for air?! Still walking around and trying to chirp. I have no idea what is going on, I seperated her and give her sugar water and some mash I made with warm water and their (medicated) chick food. I dunno what I'm doing and panicking that the rest are going to die!?
 
Sorry for your loss. If their butts aren't kept clean the stuck on poo can prevent them from having any more poos. Have you checked your chick that appears to be panting? She may be too hot, or it could mean she has something stuck in her throat.

Do you check with a thermometer, what the temps really is at chick height? There should be enough space in the brooder, to have some area under the heat lamp, and other area away from the heat. Then the chicks can decide which is more comfortable for them. I'm guessing at this age the temp should be about 85degrees, going down 5 every week.
 
Thanks for all the welcomes and helps! I moved them into a bigger brooder this week before any of them got sick. The sick one I seperated was chirping so loudly a couple hours after that I put her with the rest. She's still not as lively but I've seen her picking at food. She is no longer doing the panting thing, but I can still tell she doesn't feel well. I'm not sure exactly what else to do with her. Still providing sugar water and and the medicated mash for all of them as well as regular water and food
 
Hello :frow and Welcome To BYC! Hope the chick is OK.
 

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