- Oct 23, 2012
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Hi.
I raised bunches of chicks with no problems a year ago. For some reason I am struggling this year.
I have hatched 2 lots of chicks so far. The first lot 5 hatched and 4 died. This latest hatch I had 9 hatch. 1 died today and 3 others are still the same size as when they hatched 9 days ago. The others are big and inquisitive. The 3 sickly ones seem to have no illness just small and weak. They are orpingtons. They don't appear to want to eat and drink and I can't encourage them at all. This was the same thing that happened with the first hatch.
They have a brooder with an heat mat for warmth, I am in NZ and it is almost summer so shouldn't be cold. Plenty of room and 24hr access to grub and water.
Any ideas? The worst thing is watching them die slowly and not being able to work out why.
I'm sure the other 5 are going to do fine.
Thanks
Sam
I raised bunches of chicks with no problems a year ago. For some reason I am struggling this year.
I have hatched 2 lots of chicks so far. The first lot 5 hatched and 4 died. This latest hatch I had 9 hatch. 1 died today and 3 others are still the same size as when they hatched 9 days ago. The others are big and inquisitive. The 3 sickly ones seem to have no illness just small and weak. They are orpingtons. They don't appear to want to eat and drink and I can't encourage them at all. This was the same thing that happened with the first hatch.
They have a brooder with an heat mat for warmth, I am in NZ and it is almost summer so shouldn't be cold. Plenty of room and 24hr access to grub and water.
Any ideas? The worst thing is watching them die slowly and not being able to work out why.
I'm sure the other 5 are going to do fine.
Thanks
Sam
