Hello, I still consider myself fairly new to chick raising. I got my first few sets of chicks last summer from a store with close to no issues. I had a few pass then but the store said it was due to the temp/traveling conditions as they lost 200+chicks that I received mine from. Outside of that the chicks I had purchased from them are now beautiful ladies and all seem healthy and laying everyday.
This spring/summer I decided to purchase from a local breeder. I wanted some different breeds and not have to buy a minimum of 6 of each breed (store policy).
What I purchased (April 26th):
2 Silver Lace Wyandotte 3 weeks old
3 Barred Rock 3 weeks old
1 Naked Neck 3 weeks old
1 Olive Egger 3 weeks old
3 Polish less than a week old (separated from the other chicks)
I used the same set up I did the year before with my totes made into brooders in our bathroom.
2 days after being home I woke up to our Olive Egger dead. Worried, I kept a close eye on the rest of the chicks and looked for any signs something was wrong but everything seemed fine.
After that I had no more issues until today. Last night I checked on my chicks before bed (2am) and they were fine, acting as normal. I woke up today (12pm) and find 2 of my polish chicks dead on their backs
. I leave to do some chores for about an hr and come back to check on them and now my 3rd Polish chick is dead as well.
I contacted the breeder to see if there are any issues with her current chicks and explain my situation. They ask me a few questions about my chicks and their environment and tell me that my current bedding (straw) is bad for chicks and causes respiratory issues and thats probably what they passed from.
I thought straw was safe for chicks and older ladies as well? She suggested I use pine shavings in my brooder.
I just wanted to ask and make sure I making the right choice before switching to pine shavings from straw.
Thank you.
This spring/summer I decided to purchase from a local breeder. I wanted some different breeds and not have to buy a minimum of 6 of each breed (store policy).
What I purchased (April 26th):
2 Silver Lace Wyandotte 3 weeks old
3 Barred Rock 3 weeks old
1 Naked Neck 3 weeks old
1 Olive Egger 3 weeks old
3 Polish less than a week old (separated from the other chicks)
I used the same set up I did the year before with my totes made into brooders in our bathroom.
2 days after being home I woke up to our Olive Egger dead. Worried, I kept a close eye on the rest of the chicks and looked for any signs something was wrong but everything seemed fine.
After that I had no more issues until today. Last night I checked on my chicks before bed (2am) and they were fine, acting as normal. I woke up today (12pm) and find 2 of my polish chicks dead on their backs
. I leave to do some chores for about an hr and come back to check on them and now my 3rd Polish chick is dead as well. I contacted the breeder to see if there are any issues with her current chicks and explain my situation. They ask me a few questions about my chicks and their environment and tell me that my current bedding (straw) is bad for chicks and causes respiratory issues and thats probably what they passed from.
I thought straw was safe for chicks and older ladies as well? She suggested I use pine shavings in my brooder.
I just wanted to ask and make sure I making the right choice before switching to pine shavings from straw.
Thank you.
