shipping in two boxes? Confused

[Kelsie2290]

Sorry about the loss of the chicks, hope the rest of them are fine. It sounds like you are doing all you can for them. Even without shipping stress, some chicks have internal problems etc we can't see, and can't make it.

 

[love2grinchicke]

That is a lot of chicks! but of course the pictures made me want my birds. *checks date* four more days.

 

[cholmberg]

I'm losing the buff orpingtons. . .I don't know why. So far the casualties stand:

1 DOA in my box when I got it wed morning (buff orp)
1 EE that died about two hours later (wed morning)
1 buff orpington wed night
1 buff orp thursday afternoon
1 buff orp about 1:30 this morning (I was holding her and trying to help her with a
bit of sugar water, they have probiotic water in with them).

why the buffs? Is this coincidence? Everyone else seems perky, healthy and
fine. . I washed a few butts yesterday, but other than that. . .everyone seems
great. There was 2 buff orpingtons in my own order, 8 in that 'bonus box'. I gave
one away and have lost four of them. I'm beside myself with worry for them.
I keep checking on them all the time, and they freak me out when they are
sprawled out flat, sleeping. . .

 

[aart]

Are they too hot? Probably not...just brainstorming here.... Did the one you gave away live?

They may have just been from a weak hatch/bad line?..... if everyone else is OK.

Hopefully at least the 2 you wanted survive.

 

[cholmberg]

haven't talked to the lady today, but will ask her if the buff I gave them is ok.
It's just strange that all I'm losing now is the buffs. I understand why the one
died in shipping, and the EE shortly after, it was BRUTALLY cold during their
shipping. But the three buffs lost since. . .it's just strange. Those wyandottes
and EE are growing like weeds and seem very strong. the cochins and polish
are tiny, but seem verrrrry fiesty. So I dunno. I was wondering if there is
such a thing as a 'bad hatch' . . . I certainly am not going to call them and
say anything, but I am bummed that I can't seem to do anything for them.
the ones that died seems to be lagging behind in development.

the EE all have plenty of wing feathering now and are bigger than the rest, they
seem extremely vigorous!

 

[aart]

Considering that it's just the buffs that are failing seems that it could to point to it being a bad 'breeding'...or maybe they were in a different incubator than the others, that would be really hard to tell cause I bet their incubators are huge....why I'm thinking weak buff hen or buff roo just didn't have great genetics. Just a possibility as long as we're trying to figure out 'why'.

Are they eating and drinking and pooping? Maybe sequester them for extra care and attention?

Hard to be so helpless, hang in there and good luck with the rest.

 

[Kelsie2290]

Sorry about the buffs, hope the rest make it, wonder if the one you gave away is fine. It does sound like it could be a bad strain/genetics with them not handling shipping, with some dying in both boxes. It also sometimes seems on these mixed orders that some breeds hatched before others or were handled a little differently and have more problems.

 

[red horse ranch]

It seems to me that when I lose baby chicks that it is because of one of two things.

One. They have gotten chilled during shipment or when washing butts. I no longer wash butts, I just pick it off when dried. They can die up to a week later after being chilled.

Two. The egg was not clean when put in the incubator. Bacteria can enter the egg and kill the chick up to two weeks after hatching. These chicks are usually poor eaters and fail to thrive.

I don't know if this would be your problem but It's the only reasons that I can think of.

 

[cholmberg]

It seems to me that when I lose baby chicks that it is because of one of two things.

One. They have gotten chilled during shipment or when washing butts. I no longer wash butts, I just pick it off when dried. They can die up to a week later after being chilled.

Two. The egg was not clean when put in the incubator. Bacteria can enter the egg and kill the chick up to two weeks after hatching. These chicks are usually poor eaters and fail to thrive.

I don't know if this would be your problem but It's the only reasons that I can think of.

the buff chicks that have died DO seem to be 'poor eaters'. . . and were lagging behind in development...when I washed their butts
I used warm water, and got them wet as little as possible. . .and then took them in front of a heater to dry. so I hope they are ok.

 

[siminsc]

Please keep us updated about your chicks. I loved reading this thread. I kept going to update my husband about new postings.