REALLY NEED HELP FOR THIS ONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!18 died

I'm sorry for your loss..... however baby chicks need to be kept at 90-95 degrees for the first week, and then down only 5 degrees per week after that. They really need to be warm. it sounds like it was MUCH too cold for them to survive. Were thise temps you gave the outdoor temps or the temps in the brooder? I am surprised that MM hatchery did not include some instructions about temperature....
It helps to have a thermometer in the brooder so that you can be sure of the temps. Put it at chick level and monitor it.
Stacey

 

Shipped chicks chill easy....Their brooder should be draft free and a 250 heatlamp kept over it with the temp right under it at 95 degrees....and room to get away from the heat if needed....I've always kept my chicks in the house.......

Sounds like your set-up was too cold for them in a metal building....

 

Welcome to BYC!

You need to start day old chicks at about 90 degrees. Then every week you can back it off 5 degrees. When you set up the lamps have enough area so they can all get under without crowding and an area where they can go away from the lamps if they get to hot.

After you put the chicks in if they all huddle under the lamps they are cold. If they all move away from the lamps it is to warm. So watch them and adjust your lamps accordingly. You didn't say how many you are getting but, if it is a large number you do need more than one lamp. I'm not sure on the ratios, maybe someone with the kind of knowledge will chime in.

Good luck!

 

Do you have a thermometer in the brooder, to see what the exact temp is? The temp you are talking about, I am assuming is the air temp where you live...the brooder temp needs to be at 95 degrees for brand new chicks. The compressed wood chips-do you know what kind of wood? Cedar is toxic to chicks/chickens. Hope this helps, I am so sorry for your loss.

Edited: I'm too slow, everyone else got it

 

Your chicks need more heat asap, or they will ALL die.


The heat should be 90 - 95 degrees the first week. Then lower the heat 5 degrees each week after that, till you get to 70 degrees.

You need a red heat bulb, put it about 18 inches above the brooder floor. Lower each week as needed.

Should your chicks huddle in a tight group it is because they are cold.

Go to this web site as you have question, we will help.

 

You might have already done this, but if you look at the back of you invoice that came with the chicks they give tips on taking care of them. It was in the side of the box and not really easy to see. That really helped me out.

 

I'm going to add: if it were me I would bring the whole brooder inside. Can you set it up in your basement or a spare room for a while? That way you can monitor the temps better, there won't be any drafts, and it'll just be warmer in general. Don't put them outside without proper heat until they're fully feathered and it's 70 degrees.

 

I am so sorry for your loss. Even here in Ga. where we rarely get below freezing temps. this time of year I keep my babies in our basement until they are bigger (12 weeks or so)and the temps outside don't drop below 60. Good luck with your new ones!!!!

 

Oh dear.
Check out this sites "Learning Center" - all the info you need to know on raising chicks (and everything else!).