One week in, still losing chicks

[MidnightSunEQ]

Hi all,
I ordered 16 baby chicks from Meyers. They hatched on a Monday, arrived to me on Wednesday, and are now 1 week old. They all arrived alive, and two died within 24 hours. One has a bloody vent, one seemed healthy. I had one chick arrive fairly lethargic who died on Friday, and now I have one that I doubt will make it. This chick was fine up until yesterday but has had the worst pasty butt of the group. Currently on life support inside the house with a heating pad but refuses to eat or drink.

My brooder is outside in the main coop, sectioned off. 4x4 in size, with a large brooder plate running all day, and a heat lamp at night to keep the overall brooder above 70°. All chicks fit under the brooder plate. Eating chick food and they have access to grit.

This is not my first batch, and I have not had chicks die like this before. I don’t want to lose any more, any suggestions?

 

[ChicNmom]

@MidnightSunEQ

How warm is it there during the day? 70's seems too cold for a few days old chicks. How warm is it under the brooder plate?

Have you tried using a dropper with raw egg yolk and electrolytes to make the chick eat something?

I used hard boiled egg yolk for one of mine that didn't want to eat. But I had to put the first bite in her beak.

I also make a mash out of chicken feed and water when they are little. The seem to like it better than dry chick crumble.

 

[MidnightSunEQ]

@MidnightSunEQ

How warm is it there during the day? 70's seems too cold for a few days old chicks. How warm is it under the brooder plate?

Have you tried using a dropper with raw egg yolk and electrolytes to make the chick eat something?

I used hard boiled egg yolk for one of mine that didn't want to eat. But I had to put the first bite in her beak.

I also make a mash out of chicken feed and water when they are little. The seem to like it better than dry chick crumble.

We are still in the 90s during the day. I’m not sure what temp it is under the brooder plate, but feels roasty toasty. Currently dropper feeding raw yolk with grogel, but the chick won’t eat it. I don’t want to drown her.

 

[rosemarythyme]

So during the day it's in the 90s in the brooder area? The heat may be contributing to the pasty butt but might not be much you can do about that other than to keep a close eye on their vents.

Was it hot during the days they were in transit? Unfortunately chicks can have a rough time with shipping stress during hot or cold weather, so it might be a delayed reaction to shipping stress.

I'd supplement their water with Poultry Nutri-Drench for a couple of days to perk up the whole group. But at a week old, hopefully most of the group are already on the up and up.