Shipped chicks dying!**Update**

[mommissan]

Meyer shipped 4 replacements free for my troubles. I can't ask for replacements for the last two, since they died more than 48 hours after they arrived.

They came in the same size box that the fifteen chicks came in, and there was a heat pack in it. I got two partridge cochins(because I wanted morecochins) and two buff brahmas(because the light brahmas in the original order were in fantastic health). On the way to the PO I stopped at the drugstore and picked up 2-1 liter bottles of generic pediatric electrolyte and a bottle of Poly-visol w/o iron. I put 1 ml poly-visol in each bottle and poured it into the waterer. This time I dipped their beaks in it and even spent extra time hydrating one chick with an artists brush because it ate a lot but didn't appear to be drinking. So, after the first 24 hours, they are doing fine.

Do you think the electrolytes and/or poly-visol made the difference? Maybe the heat pack? Maybe shipping 4 instead of 15 in the same size box?

Just glad they are alive.

 

[witchawomn]

Four was probably just perfect with one heat pack. When mine arrived, they seemed a little spacey. I mixed 50/50 plain Pedialyte and water...they picked up right away. I guess you never really know. Good luck with the new babies. They grow up so fast!

 

[M3Reese]

I'm so sorry you all have lost chicks too. I've had a similar problem and also with Meyers chicks. I ordered 23 chicks from Meyers and got them in Wednesday, of the 23, 10 have died in the first two days. Each time I've inspected the bodies there hasn't been any damage, no clogged butts ( I have been checking them all daily as I've heard the stress of mail travel can cause it ), and they were all perfect when I got them I thought. I paid to have them vaccinated, gave them medicated feed, fresh pine bedding, probiotics in their water, and a new red bulb heat lamp. The next day I walked out to see 8 flat little chicks. The thermometer read that it was actually a little too warm (100 degrees) because the new light is stronger so I backed that off. I lost two more after that. The other chicks are spread out in their box, some under the light and some not and the thermo says 90 degrees now. They're all a little lethargic looking to me though. I check them several times a day and they're always flopped down sleeping, not really running around until I wake them up. They're eating and drinking though and no bloody poops. *pulls hair out*

I called Meyers and their rep told me that they only have a 1% death rate so it had to be me. I'm not a huge fan of them now. Any suggestions to stop the death toll rising?

 

[MTchicknman]

Thanks for the info .... we ordered 16 chicks from Meyers and recieved them two days ago. So far we've lost 2 chicks (with a few more showing the same symptoms as those two ... (weak, lethargic, no longer interested in food or water, bloody butt [NOT from pecking!], and then death). It's Friday night, we can't report the deaths, and we are expecting more over the weekend.

IF what is said above is the same result for my complaint, IF that is Meyer's attitude, I won't be a happy camper, and if I'm not a happy camper, they won't get my recommendation, nor my business, and I will tell all who ask what a lousy hatchery they are! But, I'll have to wait until Monday to find out about their attitude, so I'll have to put off judgement until then ;>).

 

[3riverschick]

Go over to the illness thread
I think your chicks have some cocci and need some corid medicine it .also get over to Tractor Supply or your feed store and buy some poultry Nutri drench or some goat Nutri drench .use these dosage instructions for either formula
For Poultry: one drop per chick by mouth. repeat every 8 to 10 hours until perky. put 1/2 teaspoon in a quart waterer . if the illness thread says to put the corid in the water , use to Waterers ...one for the drench water and one for the corid .
Ask the illness thread when you can start giving them some yogurt for probiotics.
best success ,
Karen

 

[MTchicknman]

Go over to the illness thread
I think your chicks have some cocci and need some corid medicine it .also get over to Tractor Supply or your feed store and buy some poultry Nutri drench or some goat Nutri drench .use these dosage instructions for either formula
For Poultry: one drop per chick by mouth. repeat every 8 to 10 hours until perky. put 1/2 teaspoon in a quart waterer . if the illness thread says to put the corid in the water , use to Waterers ...one for the drench water and one for the corid .
Ask the illness thread when you can start giving them some yogurt for probiotics.
best success ,
Karen

Thanks Karen, The wife feeds them a Homemade electrolyte formula of some natural stuff as well as sugar, vinegar, and 99.9% pure water from Lewistown, MT. I'll look into the yogurt/probiotics feeding - something we never did when I was a youngster, although we did feed them soured milk, buttermilk and such from our cow. We made our own cream, butter, sour cream etc. so I would think that soured milk would have some of those probiotics in it, yes? I don't know a bit about probiotics - guess I should read up on it if it's good for chix ;>).

We ended up losing 3 total, the rest seem to be fine. Meyers has agreed to refund our money for the three, so I figure they're an up and up company.

 

[3riverschick]

Yes that dairy products you fed them back then was fine probiotics.
Glad the rest of the birds are doing better!
Best,
Karen

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I am so sorry about your chicks---heartbreaking!!! Sending hugs and best wishes for you and the rest of your chicks.
I am a first-time chicken mama and went crazy researching and asking my many chicken-owning friends how to deal with my seven two-day old chicks. I got them through a feed/pet store (small family owned, also own a farm supply store) who got them from Cackle Hatchery. Ordered what I wanted---two Buff Orpington, two Silver Laced Wyandotte, two Gold Laced Wyandotte, and one Barred Rock.
They are now five weeks old, feisty and healthy and full of new feathers. No pasty butt, no spraddle legs, no odd poop. Keeping my fingers crossed for continued good luck because I am not smug at all about my good fortune so far. I know things can come crashing to a halt pretty quickly with chicks.
Okay, so this is what I did.
First brooder was a big plastic tote. I started with paper towels over newspaper, changed twice daily. After a week or so, I switched to newspaper and an inch or so of pine shavings. Made a custom top by cutting out the middle of the top, framing with wood, and using hardware cloth as a screen.
Medicated Blue Seal chick starter in a plastic feeder, checked a few times a day to refill and remove poop. Washed out as needed, definitely every other day.
Water in plastic chick feeder with small rocks in the trough to prevent drowning. Apple cider vinegar (organic with the "mother") added to water.
Separate electrolyte/probiotic water provided in small bowl with rocks. They were happy to use both sources of water.
I added a small dowel (I think it was 5/16") as a roost through the walls of the brooder---they started using it almost immediately.
One 250 watt red heat bulb, clipped to a floor lamp pole and adjusted to temp. After a while I tended to ignore the actual temp and looked instead at how they were acting---never saw them huddling anywhere so I guessed that they were comfortable.
Checked them at least three times a day for pasty butt for the first couple of weeks. Yes, I am anal, no pun intended. I was a Type A critical care nurse for decades before I retired, lol.
Fast forward to today, their 5 week birthday.
Took the bottom of an XXL dog crate and covered the door end with plywood a few weeks ago, put in a 3/4" roosting bar. No more newspaper, just pine shavings with some Sweet PDZ added. Cut a piece of plastic screening material to cover and hold it in place with clothespins. I originally covered the top with bird netting I had for plants but the bigger holes worried me---they were now hopping on top of the feeder and waterer and sticking their heads through the holes. I envisioned coming home and finding them hanging like pinatas.
Feeder and waterer are now raised up on terra cotta plant saucers---to try and keep some of the kicked up pine shavings out but good luck on that one.
Added a chick nipple waterer to the side of the box a few weeks ago---they learned to use it within minutes, fascinated by the metal nipple tip. I tapped it a few times and they ran over to see what was going on and took it from there.
Added fresh herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary) and chick grit from week 2, tolerated well. Stopped the electrolyte in their water after the first week, still add the probiotics occasionally.

So---so far, so good. Counting my blessings!
I hope this can help other newbies and any advice from oldies would also be very appreciated!
Chicken coop is ready---run will be ready by next week (doing that ourselves) and they will be out of my office by then, hopefully!

Sorry---tried to attach pics and screwed up a little here.
Pics are of two day old chicks in their little brooder box, five week old chicks, the bigger brooder box with five week old chicks, and the coop with chicken run in progress.

 

[NorthTexasWink]

I had to chuckle at your report, NancyNurse. I'm also a retired CC/Trauma/ED nurse. Nicely organized and I appreciate your ingenious problem solving, your logical approach combined with your intuitive thoughtful risk management. You can take the woman out of nursing, but you can't take the nursing out of the woman! Brava!

Wishing you and your chicks all the best.

 

[NancyNurseCxMama]

I had to chuckle at your report, NancyNurse. I'm also a retired CC/Trauma/ED nurse. Nicely organized and I appreciate your ingenious problem solving, your logical approach combined with your intuitive thoughtful risk management. You can take the woman out of nursing, but you can't take the nursing out of the woman! Brava!

Wishing you and your chicks all the best.

Thank you, NTW! I don't know if my CC experience is a blessing or a curse at times!
I am doing my best but I do know that things can go wrong, go wrong quickly, and the end result might be something I cannot do anything about. **** happens, sadly.
Yep, just like some of my worst days at work.
I just noticed where you are from---my sister and mother live in Texas and I was there a few months ago and we went to a restaurant in Arlington---"A Taste of Europe"---and had a wonderful time!