One chick left

[KristyDavi6]

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.

None had pasty butt, that's the one thing I KNEW to keep an eye out for. They were all eating and drinking in the behinning.

I keep moving the light around. We put the light on and they begin panting, we've moved it away and made it cooler but then they huddle together and seem to shiver.
We've made it so there is one half shade one half light and the just sit in the light panting.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What state are you in?

 

[danceswithronin]

None had pasty butt, that's the one thing I KNEW to keep an eye out for. They were all eating and drinking in the behinning.

I keep moving the light around. We put the light on and they begin panting, we've moved it away and made it cooler but then they huddle together and seem to shiver.
We've made it so there is one half shade one half light and the just sit in the light panting.

Sounds like you need a different kind of brooder lamp, I would break down and buy one of the more expensive (and temperature stable) MHP ones like the Brinsea EcoGlow. It holds a steady 96F and is designed so the chicks can move directly in and out from under it so they can regulate their temperatures a lot more easily. But it doesn't really radiate heat beyond the brooder pad itself, so the rest of the brooder stays cool.

 

[KristyDavi6]

What state are you in?

I'm in Texas.

 

[KristyDavi6]

Sounds like you need a different kind of brooder lamp, I would break down and buy one of the more expensive (and temperature stable) MHP ones like the Brinsea EcoGlow. It holds a steady 96F and is designed so the chicks can move directly in and out from under it so they can regulate their temperatures a lot more easily. But it doesn't really radiate heat beyond the brooder pad itself, so the rest of the brooder stays cool.

I'm learning so much, I didn't even know there was a specific lamp like this. I'll have to get one, thank you.

 

[KristyDavi6]

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.

Thank you, she passsed so we are left with one that seems incredibly healthy. I put the small cuddly toy in and the mirror.

 

[danceswithronin]

I'm learning so much, I didn't even know there was a specific lamp like this. I'll have to get one, thank you.

I know it sounds like I'm shilling for Brinsea I recommend this brooder lamp so much on these forums, but I have had really, really good luck using it and wouldn't think to use any other kind of brooder lamp at this point. I've raised two batches of chicks under it and have never lost a single one.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

You have lots of options for a necropsy.
Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Amarillo (Branch)
6610 Amarillo Blvd West
Amarillo, Texas 79106-1706
Phone: 806-353-7478

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory - Center (Branch)
635 Malone Dr
Center, Texas 75935-3530
Phone: 936-598-4451

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (Main)
483 Agronomy Road
College Station, Texas 77843-4471
Phone: 979-845-3414

Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory – Gonzales (Branch)
1162 East Sarah DeWitt Drive
Gonzales, Texas 78629
Phone: 830-672-2834

Texas Animal Health Commission State-Federal Laboratory
8200 Cameron Road, Suite A186
Austin, Texas 78754-3832
Phone: 512-832-6580

 

[aart]

Can you post a photo of your brooder set up?

This^^^^Please!?

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.

Ditto Dat^^^



Here's my notes on chick heat, hope something in there might help:
They need to be pretty warm(~85-90F on the brooder floor right under the lamp and 10-20 degrees cooler at the other end of brooder) for the first day or two, especially if they have been shipped, until they get to eating, drinking and moving around well. But after that it's best to keep them as cool as possible for optimal feather growth and quicker acclimation to outside temps. A lot of chick illnesses are attributed to too warm of a brooder. I do think it's a good idea to use a thermometer on the floor of the brooder to check the temps, especially when new at brooding, later I still use it but more out of curiosity than need.

The best indicator of heat levels is to watch their behavior:
-If they are huddled/piled up right under the lamp and cheeping very loudly, they are too cold.
-If they are spread out on the absolute edges of the brooder as far from the lamp as possible, panting and/or cheeping very loudly, they are too hot.
-If they sleep around the edge of the lamp calmly just next to each other and spend time running all around the brooder they are juuuust right!

The lamp is best at one end of the brooder with food/water at the other cooler end of the brooder, so they can get away from the heat or be under it as needed. Wattage of 'heat' bulb depends on size of brooder and ambient temperature of room brooder is in. Regular incandescent bulbs can be used, you might not need a 'heat bulb'. If you do use a heat bulb make sure it's specifically for poultry, some heat bulbs for food have teflon coatings that can kill birds. You can get red colored incandescent bulbs at a reptile supply source. A dimmer extension cord is an excellent way to adjust the output of the bulb to change the heat without changing the height of the lamp.



Or you could go with a heat plate, commercially made or DIY: http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/pseudo-brooder-heater-plate

Here's a nice informative post about using a heat plate:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...my-brooder-plans.1293399/page-6#post-21053270