No longer interested in crumble?

[EarthToWitness]

It’s difficult to regulate super well but... warm end 83.5, cool end 80.

Actually, that leads to a question I have. When I received the chicks, they were 1 week old and the lady said they were kept at 80 degrees. As far as turning the temps down goes, I worked them up to 90 week one, -5 per week after that. If they were used to 80 and week 3 still at around 85, could this be bothering them? And explain why NO CRUMBLE and MANY DIARRHEA ...

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They could be too hot. Commercially they raise chicks at 90 for the first week and lower by 5 each week like you did but they have tens of thousands of chicks in a building and it just isn't feasible to alter temperatures like someone with a few chicks does.
It is best to do as a mother hen does. Provide a warm space and plenty of cool space so they can find their comfort zone.
Besides possibly too hot, provide some probiotics and that may help with the diarrhea.

 

[rosemarythyme]

You need to watch their behavior to know if they're too hot/cold. If they're all spread apart or staying as far from the heated area as possible, too hot. Clumped together under the heat, too cold. I assume you're using a big heat bulb since your brooder's warm end and cool end are only 3 degrees apart, which means there's no place for the chicks to go if they really are too hot. If the heat isn't already in just one corner, you need to figure out a way to move it so it only heats part of the brooder and not the whole thing. Or if the wattage is just too high, you can pick up a reptile bulb from a pet store and those are much lower wattage than the heat bulbs sold for chickens.

 

[EarthToWitness]

They could be too hot. Commercially they raise chicks at 90 for the first week and lower by 5 each week like you did but they have 10s if thousands of chicks in a building and don't have the ability to alter temperatures like someone with a few chicks does.
It is best to do as a mother hen does. Provide a warm space and plenty of cool space so they can find their comfort zone.
Besides possibly too hot, provide some probiotics and that may help with the diarrhea.

I picked up probiotic yogurt today actually. Still working on a more suitable space. Pics to follow!

 

[EarthToWitness]

Uhhh so this is what I rigged for the moment. I realize it’s kind of atrocious. I was trying to get the temperatures under control so they can cool off properly. So now there is about a 10 point (Fahrenheit) difference from each side. And now they all have more room. So I guess that’s a plus. And roosting poles on each side... I’m hoping to have them out into the coop in a week or two but it’s snowing right now I can’t put them out there in that. It may not look like it guys but I’ve gone to great lengths for these cheeps. I just hope this can last them until coop time or a better brooder solution presents itself. :/ :/ :/ This is the 3rd brooder set up in 2 weeks of having them. I’m dying.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Uhhh so this is what I rigged for the moment. I realize it’s kind of atrocious. I was trying to get the temperatures under control so they can cool off properly. So now there is about a 10 point (Fahrenheit) difference from each side. And now they all have more room. So I guess that’s a plus. And roosting poles on each side... I’m hoping to have them out into the coop in a week or two but it’s snowing right now I can’t put them out there in that. It may not look like it guys but I’ve gone to great lengths for these cheeps. I just hope this can last them until coop time or a better brooder solution presents itself. :/ :/ :/ This is the 3rd brooder set up in 2 weeks of having them. I’m dying.

How big are they -- no fair to show just the brooding area without some baby pictures
Have they started eating better since you changed your setup?
How many chicks do you have?
Chicks outgrow their brooding accommodations quickly, so I really do appreciate how much effort you are putting into making these babies happy, comfortable and healthy.
I am not criticizing what you are doing, but do worry about that lamp being so close to the plastic.
Do you have power in your coop? I see your in Canada, so assume you made a sturdy coop to withstand your harsh winter weather. If you have electric in your coop, you may want to consider making a Mama Heating Pad system and transition your chicks outside.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

Just a thought - look forward to seeing those babies!

 

[EarthToWitness]

Hi. Just got them fed and watered for the morning. Here are a few snaps. There are 10 chicks and they turned 3 weeks old on Monday. I think they are more comfortable. They all huddle nearest the light at night but not on top of each other. They mess in their water less with this set up and I heard happy little sounds out of them as they settled to sleep last night. It was like a quiet purr/rumbly sound. But ya, the coop is insulated and we will have a bulb in there for heat. This one, as you said, is awfully close to the plastic. I had the bright idea late last night to put foil around the edges where it gets too hot. And I moved the bulb back an inch or two. All’s well this morning.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

View attachment 1344574 View attachment 1344575 View attachment 1344581 Hi. Just got them fed and watered for the morning. Here are a few snaps. There are 10 chicks and they turned 3 weeks old on Monday. I think they are more comfortable. They all huddle nearest the light at night but not on top of each other. They mess in their water less with this set up and I heard happy little sounds out of them as they settled to sleep last night. It was like a quiet purr/rumbly sound. But ya, the coop is insulated and we will have a bulb in there for heat. This one, as you said, is awfully close to the plastic. I had the bright idea late last night to put foil around the edges where it gets too hot. And I moved the bulb back an inch or two. All’s well this morning.

Such cute babies!

I do wonder if part of the problem is it's a little too dark on the "cool" side of your setup. You may want to consider placing something like a house lamp beside that area during the day so it sheds more light in(?)

Good idea with the tin foil!

Yes, love those purring sounds - happy chicks! I hope all things continue to go well for you.

 

[Athena2344]

Actually wetting feed for Chicks is not good..They are not Ducklings..

My guys starved themselves for almost 3 days before i was told to wet their feed and when i did, they devoured it and after a couple of days of wet feed, i was able to switch them back over to dry feed

 

[chickens really]

My guys starved themselves for almost 3 days before i was told to wet their feed and when i did, they devoured it and after a couple of days of wet feed, i was able to switch them back over to dry feed

Understandable if they were not taught to eat dry..Hatchery Chicks need to be shown how to eat..