- Apr 3, 2013
- 25
- 1
- 22
Hello,
After many years of wanting and planning I picked up my first flock last Friday. I went to a couple feed stores to get the chicks I wanted. I picked up one of each: White Leghorn & Barred Rock. They were said to be a couple days old. At the next feed store I got an Americauna & Rhode Island Red, one day old. My friend also wanted to add to her flock, so we got a 2 week old Welsummer who will live with the little ones until she's ready to meet her flock and live outside.
I set them up in a plastic bin for their booder, mason jar flout, chick feeder and pine shavings, and a red warming light. I bought the chick starter feed. Brooder is in the bathtub.
I'm diligent about keeping the water and feed clean. The flout gets cleaned out with hot soapy water at least 2x a day, and the mess they make in the flout gets scooped out like 4-6x a day. I scoop out pine shavings from the feed a couple times a day. I did a full brooder clean on Sunday (3 days home). Their bottoms get checked every day.
Life so far: We live in sunny Phoenix, so we went out in the lawn for a short 15 minute photo shoot at 3 days, no one seemed interested in the grass or surroundings much, but they weren't out for long. I gave them a small amount of baby salad lettuce at 4 days old, some parsley with roots & a bit of soil at 5 days, Some steamed veggies (bok choy and broccoli) at 6 days, and some grass clippings (no fertilizers) last night. All of these were giving in very small amounts, just a little green to pick at. I spread some sand in the bottom of the brooder for them to go after.
The Barred Rock died this morning. I'm heart broken. Tears shed over a tiny little life that ended sooner than it should have. I have no clue what happened.
Barred Rock: she had a bit of pasty bum on day 2. I cleaned her up and all seemed well. She was as active as everyone else, ate, drank, and played with the veggies like everyone. Last night she ate a little grass after I put it down for them. Can't remember if I specifically saw her eat some feed. I'm sure I saw her drink. Checked on them a few times last night and got a good look at everyone's bottoms. I last checked on them at 11 PM. When I got up this morning she was in the same spot in the cooler corner of the brooder. She had a bunch of bedding on her back, so I immediately had a feeling something was wrong. I picked her up and she didn't protest much. I placed her by the water and dipped her beak, but she was limp and wouldn't drink. She did have some poo on her vent, and below, I held her bottom under warm water for a minute and get her clean up. She was VERY lethargic. Only opening her eyes briefly. I saw her vent "working" but no poo came out. She stayed in my hands in a towel and I held her under the heat lamp while my husband got a bowl of sugar water. She took a couple assisted sips, and swallowed as I held her head up. A few minutes later she died in my hands.
I cleaning everything like mad this morning. The brooder box got hosed out, new bedding, cleaned the flout and scraped out the feeder. Put a capful of apple cider vinegar (with the mother), in the flout.
My apologies for this novel length post. Any other suggestions on measures I might take to protect the other little ones? I'm really worried, and sad.
After many years of wanting and planning I picked up my first flock last Friday. I went to a couple feed stores to get the chicks I wanted. I picked up one of each: White Leghorn & Barred Rock. They were said to be a couple days old. At the next feed store I got an Americauna & Rhode Island Red, one day old. My friend also wanted to add to her flock, so we got a 2 week old Welsummer who will live with the little ones until she's ready to meet her flock and live outside.
I set them up in a plastic bin for their booder, mason jar flout, chick feeder and pine shavings, and a red warming light. I bought the chick starter feed. Brooder is in the bathtub.
I'm diligent about keeping the water and feed clean. The flout gets cleaned out with hot soapy water at least 2x a day, and the mess they make in the flout gets scooped out like 4-6x a day. I scoop out pine shavings from the feed a couple times a day. I did a full brooder clean on Sunday (3 days home). Their bottoms get checked every day.
Life so far: We live in sunny Phoenix, so we went out in the lawn for a short 15 minute photo shoot at 3 days, no one seemed interested in the grass or surroundings much, but they weren't out for long. I gave them a small amount of baby salad lettuce at 4 days old, some parsley with roots & a bit of soil at 5 days, Some steamed veggies (bok choy and broccoli) at 6 days, and some grass clippings (no fertilizers) last night. All of these were giving in very small amounts, just a little green to pick at. I spread some sand in the bottom of the brooder for them to go after.
The Barred Rock died this morning. I'm heart broken. Tears shed over a tiny little life that ended sooner than it should have. I have no clue what happened.
Barred Rock: she had a bit of pasty bum on day 2. I cleaned her up and all seemed well. She was as active as everyone else, ate, drank, and played with the veggies like everyone. Last night she ate a little grass after I put it down for them. Can't remember if I specifically saw her eat some feed. I'm sure I saw her drink. Checked on them a few times last night and got a good look at everyone's bottoms. I last checked on them at 11 PM. When I got up this morning she was in the same spot in the cooler corner of the brooder. She had a bunch of bedding on her back, so I immediately had a feeling something was wrong. I picked her up and she didn't protest much. I placed her by the water and dipped her beak, but she was limp and wouldn't drink. She did have some poo on her vent, and below, I held her bottom under warm water for a minute and get her clean up. She was VERY lethargic. Only opening her eyes briefly. I saw her vent "working" but no poo came out. She stayed in my hands in a towel and I held her under the heat lamp while my husband got a bowl of sugar water. She took a couple assisted sips, and swallowed as I held her head up. A few minutes later she died in my hands.
I cleaning everything like mad this morning. The brooder box got hosed out, new bedding, cleaned the flout and scraped out the feeder. Put a capful of apple cider vinegar (with the mother), in the flout.
My apologies for this novel length post. Any other suggestions on measures I might take to protect the other little ones? I'm really worried, and sad.
