One chick left

[KristyDavi6]

Im relatively new to chickens. We got our first four last August and one died as a chick. We ordered 8 more this month and six have died the seventh is dying, the eighth is going strong.
(Don't know why they died, they were scratching their eyes when they first arrived, then they stopped eating and just layed down flat with their wings splayed)
My question is, will the chick be ok alone for now if the seventh does die?

We're trying to track down some more baby chicks so she isn't alone but none of the local suppliers have them right now and I hate to leave her alone for a month until the chicks can ship.
Any advice?
This chick is a week old now, I don't think it'd be a good idea to put her with the hens.
Any advice?
Thank you in advance.

 

[Wezdin]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry to hear about your chicks. are you supplying them with artificial heat? the chick should not be alone. I would recommend that you get them some nutri drench to give them a boost.

 

[Willowspirit]

Im relatively new to chickens. We got our first four last August and one died as a chick. We ordered 8 more this month and six have died the seventh is dying, the eighth is going strong.
(Don't know why they died, they were scratching their eyes when they first arrived, then they stopped eating and just layed down flat with their wings splayed)
My question is, will the chick be ok alone for now if the seventh does die?

We're trying to track down some more baby chicks so she isn't alone but none of the local suppliers have them right now and I hate to leave her alone for a month until the chicks can ship.
Any advice?
This chick is a week old now, I don't think it'd be a good idea to put her with the hens.
Any advice?
Thank you in advance.

before I got new birds I would want to know more about why the other birds died. Do you have any you can send for necropsy? And i would keep her separated from the hens until you know she hasn't got what the other birds had.

 

[KristyDavi6]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry to hear about your chicks. are you supplying them with artificial heat? the chick should not be alone. I would recommend that you get them some nutri drench to give them a boost.

Yeah I have no idea why they died. My husband buried all the bird, but the one currently dying we could send if she dies. Thank you for letting me know to keep her away from the other hens, that would've been a bad lesson to learn the hard way.

 

[Wezdin]

DO NOT PUT HER IN WITH THE HENS! they will peck it to death because she is smaller.

 

[KristyDavi6]

Welcome to BYC! Sorry to hear about your chicks. are you supplying them with artificial heat? the chick should not be alone. I would recommend that you get them some nutri drench to give them a boost.

Yes they had the warmer on them, it was at 85/90. I don't know what to do with the the chick if the other one dies. I don't want her to be alone either but getting more might just mean giving the other chicks the same illness?
I will get nutri drench ASAP.
I've been giving them the hydro hen 3in1 as directed too.

 

[KristyDavi6]

DO NOT PUT HER IN WITH THE HENS! they will peck it to death because she is smaller.

Great, good to know. Thank you so much!

 

[rebrascora]

Lying with their wings spread out suggests they may have overheated. Can you post a photo of your brooder set up? I would agree not to add any more until you figure out what the problem is otherwise you are potentially condemning the new ones to a similar fate. If you lose the sick one, a mirror and a small cuddly toy may help the lone chick to cope until you can find it some new friends.

 

[danceswithronin]

Yes they had the warmer on them, it was at 85/90. I don't know what to do with the the chick if the other one dies. I don't want her to be alone either but getting more might just mean giving the other chicks the same illness?
I will get nutri drench ASAP.
I've been giving them the hydro hen 3in1 as directed too.

85-90 seems pretty low temperature-wise to me for day-old chicks. I always keep mine between 95-98F.

Also did any of the chicks have pasty butt before they died? Did you introduce them to water? Did you actually observe them eating and drinking?

I would also like to see some pics of your brooder setup, including the food you are feeding them.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Do not get more chickens till the necropsy results come back or you could just be continuing to have dead chickens.
What state are you in? Do you have your state poultry lab contact info?

I'd never go as high as 95F in the whole brooder. That's fine in one spot as long as they have plenty of cool space so they can find their comfort zone.