Please help me understand

[Countryliving92]

I need to help my wife.

We bought 5 Bantam chicks from Tractor Supply and one died randomly as far as we can tell.

We have had them for about 4 days now and they all seemed fine.

We take them out the pen about once a day for them to play and forage in the yard and this chick in particular would always follow my wife around almost like a duck following it’s mother. She would sit down and the chick would climb up on her and go to sleep.

As far as I can tell that is the only difference from that chick and the rest of them other than we believe they are different breeds of bantams.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Sometimes baby chicks just die. Did it have a pasty bum?

 

[Countryliving92]

Sometimes baby chicks just die. Did it have a pasty bum?

I understand that growing up around chickens.

I will check it’s bum when I get home she is tore up right now because Fiona was her favorite one so she won’t inspect it for me.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

That's understandable. Unfortunately it's almost always the favorites.

 

[Teresa D]

I thought when they are real young the less handling the better. I waited till 4 weeks to let them have outside time In a pen of course.

 

[K0k0shka]

I thought when they are real young the less handling the better. I waited till 4 weeks to let them have outside time In a pen of course.

That’s not true. Early handling helps the chicks socialize and bond with you. If you’re careful not to step or sit on them, there’s no harm. A mother hen would take them outside at a couple days old, so no harm in giving them outdoor time either. As long as they are protected from predators, pets, and have heat if they are young and it’s chilly outside.

I’ve been handling mine extensively since they hatched. They are 8 weeks old now and very docile and friendly. They even let my young kids pick them up and carry them around (the kids have been handling them since hatch, too).

 

[Countryliving92]

That's understandable. Unfortunately it's almost always the favorites.

I believe it was a silky because I can’t really see it’s butthole.

 

[Countryliving92]

That’s not true. Early handling helps the chicks socialize and bond with you. If you’re careful not to step or sit on them, there’s no harm. A mother hen would take them outside at a couple days old, so no harm in giving them outdoor time either. As long as they are protected from predators, pets, and have heat if they are young and it’s chilly outside.

I’ve been handling mine extensively since they hatched. They are 8 weeks old now and very docile and friendly. They even let my young kids pick them up and carry them around (the kids have been handling them since hatch, too).

This is comforting because his comment got me worried.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I handle my chicks whenever I have time and just stop when they start to get worked up.

 

[SegiDream]

I thought when they are real young the less handling the better. I waited till 4 weeks to let them have outside time In a pen of course.

Same. I limit handling until they're at least a week old, but still hang around watching them so they get used to us (and they're so adorable who can resist). I'm a firm believer that too much stress can kill a weak chick. Sounds like this one had something else going on. It could just been a FTT.

Are they on medicated feed? Have they been given any grit if they are going outside and eating stuff outside?