Not have much luck with TSC chicks at the moment...

[wornoutmomto3]

I have purchased 4 RIR, 1 BO, 2 NN Turken, 4 pullets, and 4 ducklings from TSC. So far, I have lost one duckling and one chick. Now, my two turkens are very weak and nearly all the chicks have pasty butt. The only ones that don't are the NN Turkens. One of the Turkens barely wants to move and appears close to death's door. They have been under a warm heat lamp since arriving home. There is chick starter feed available and vitamins in their water. The turkens have just wanted to lay under the heat lamp and sleep, but the others just trample all over them. I have had to separate them for their own safety.

The chicks I hatched myself two weeks ago had non of these issues. (They are in a different brooder.) What can I do to encourage these chicks to stop dying and start thriving?

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

I would make sure that you dip their beaks in the water and watch them drink a bit ( you probably already know this, just covering the bases!). I would give the pasty buts a warm bath and maybe give a little of a chick - safe treat like yougurt or oatmeal to make sure they aren't running on empty. Hope it helps!

 

[wornoutmomto3]

I don't have any yogurt at the moment, but I have heard of scrambling an egg for them. Do you think that will work, if I can get them to eat it?

 

[ChickenGoesRuff]

Totally! I've fed my chicks scrambled eggs before and they loved it. You also don't need to add grit unless you feel you should. I've never had to add grit to mine, though.

 

[wornoutmomto3]

The weak chick did not survive the night. The other NN Turken has made it through, but there is still a long way to go. I can get it to drink, but not eat. I am heading out later today to get some yogurt. Hopefully, the little one will perk up some more and soon.
This is my fourth year raising chicks, but first with TSC chicks. I have never had these issues in the past, and I mean never. I seriously dislike loosing chicks for any reason, but especially when I don't know what is happening and can't seem to stop it.

 

[mle022]

I just picked up some chicks from TSC yesterday and I have one that isn't eating crumbles. I feel your pain. I hope the rest of yours will be okay!

 

[RitzHomestead]

I have purchased 4 RIR, 1 BO, 2 NN Turken, 4 pullets, and 4 ducklings from TSC. So far, I have lost one duckling and one chick. Now, my two turkens are very weak and nearly all the chicks have pasty butt. The only ones that don't are the NN Turkens. One of the Turkens barely wants to move and appears close to death's door. They have been under a warm heat lamp since arriving home. There is chick starter feed available and vitamins in their water. The turkens have just wanted to lay under the heat lamp and sleep, but the others just trample all over them. I have had to separate them for their own safety.

The chicks I hatched myself two weeks ago had non of these issues. (They are in a different brooder.) What can I do to encourage these chicks to stop dying and start thriving?

The 10 chicks that I picked up from TSC are doing very well, my experience at TSC is what I didn't like but luckily the chicks are doing great! I hope yours do better!

 

[song of joy]

At this time of year, it's very possible the chicks got chilled during transit from the hatchery to TSC. Sometimes they survive the trip but then die off the next couple of days and/or suffer ill effects (pasty butt, slow growth).

I would recommend some apple cider vinegar in their drinking water, as it helps the pH and microflora balance of the gut, and also helps with pasty butt. Use 1 tablespoon per gallon of water. Don't use this in a metal waterer.

I hope things turn around for your chicks. It's heartbreaking when they die, and a very helpless feeling when you can't stop it from happening.

 

[tjo804]

I agree ACV with the mother and I would use it in the water and soak non medicated chick feed (fermented feed) and feed that as well as the scrambled eggs. The ACV helps with pasty butts and I also use it with my Layers if they show signs of poo on feathers.

Good luck

 

[foggyforkfarm]

I had the same issue but from a local breeder. I ground up my chick starter to a fine powder and put them in my old hovabator incubator at 95 degrees for two day until they were all up bouncing around good. They did horrible in the brooder. I thought they were going to die. Several of my chicks cant eat the starter unless its ground up.