Should I be concerned?

[frprsn]

HI, new to the foruma and to hatchlings. We got 8 last Thursday and had lost one yesterday : (
We have no idea, like many on the forum, why. But I worry if it is a viral thing. Someone mentioned a salmonella virus and that the eggs from the remaining exsposed survisors would not be good. How do I know that? It seems there are many on this forum that lose chicks, it just happens, so does everyone not use the remaining survivor chicks for future egg layers? How does one figure this out for sure? Thanks, Sandra

 

[Judy]

First, salmonella is not a virus, it is a bacteria, and it rarely if ever kills them. Mostly they are or are not a carrier.

Yes, people lose young chicks without knowing why. It is probably often either related to the stress of being shipped or even simply the hatch, or some congential defect.

If the rest of the chicks do not seem ill, I would not worry about it. If they had a respiratory illness, you would see cold-type symptoms such as runny nose, runny eyes, coughing and sneezing, etc. And like us, they might occasionally cough or sneeze just from a little dust.

It's easy to get overly worried after reading about all the things that can go wrong. Remember, most of the time they don't; people often post because there is a problem, when you might never hear about all the flocks without illnesses.

Relax and enjoy!

 

[BullChick]

If it makes you feel better, I have a handful of friends that have had chickens for 40 years or more (my husband is old, thus our friends are archaic), and are constantly asking how many chicks I have lost. It really does just happen. No known reason.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in.... Spit that chick out of your mouth! Yuck!

 

[RonC]

Sorry to hear about the little one.Losses during the first week are common. Congenital defects that can't be seen take thier toll. After the first week the survival rate goes up. They get tougher and smarter as time goes on. Take good care of your little ones that need you now.

 

[Chambertin]

Give them a fighting chance, but be ready for anything with chicks.
Genetics, predators, conditions, ilness, and the list goes on. If you think about it, theres hardly a chance any living thing should survive in this world.

Maybe I should call some freinds and family and check my chickens again...

Good luck and enjoy the ones that do survive.