Silkie thread!

[Iluvmysilkies]

I think I missed it but what temperature are you keeping their brooder, @iluvsilkies ?

Honestly I am not sure, i havent picked up a thermometer like I probably should. I figured it cant be too hot because I put the lamp about a foot above their box (bucket) and the bucket is almost 3ft long so they could easily get away from the heat on the other end if needed. Their bedding feels slightly warm to the touch directly under the lamp so ive been thinking its perfect. ? How warm should it be for week old chicks? The bulb ive been using is a 250watt.

 

[subhanalah]

How are they acting? Are they piled up on top of eachother? Do they avoid the lighted area like a plague?

I'm beginning to think perhaps the breeder you got them from is having nutritional problems in her flock, or they are all too closely related causing weak genes. Just so sad to lose babies this way...and you're just brand new at this.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Honestly I am not sure, i havent picked up a thermometer like I probably should. I figured it cant be too hot because I put the lamp about a foot above their box (bucket) and the bucket is almost 3ft long so they could easily get away from the heat on the other end if needed. Their bedding feels slightly warm to the touch directly under the lamp so ive been thinking its perfect. ? How warm should it be for week old chicks? The bulb ive been using is a 250watt. 

You really do need a thermometer . Just a cheap digital aquarium one will do the trick. Otherwise you are just never going to get it right. I would be wary of overdosing on the vitamins as excess can be as dangerous as deficient.

 

[subhanalah]

250 watts I would say is way hot. I use a 90 watt flood lamp and even that at 12 inches away is way too hot. Or do you mean 12 I chest above the top of the brooder box? How tall is the brooder box?

 

[Fancychooklady]

I only use a 75 watt. And my brooder is 5 foot long.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

How are they acting? Are they piled up on top of eachother? Do they avoid the lighted area like a plague?

I'm beginning to think perhaps the breeder you got them from is having nutritional problems in her flock, or they are all too closely related causing weak genes. Just so sad to lose babies this way...and you're just brand new at this.

It really is very upsetting because I was so excited to finally get silkies again. I had such a wonderful experience with my silkie rooster growing up who was like my baby to me. I spoiled him like crazy. I thought I was getting awesome quality chicks from this breeder and they do look great. Big fluffy heads, but so very tiny bodies. First one is very lethargic and wont eat/drink then dies, then one gets wry neck and dies a day later, and now another is laying down all the time and doesent want to walk (but is still eating/drinking), and another is limping on one foot and starting to lay down alot more probably because it hurts to walk on it. Not sure if any of this is genetics, vitamin deficiency, or if its my fault for letting my daughter handle them the other day (she just corraled them in her lap and put them back in if they jumped out, and I took pics. And watched her closely, and she was very careful) I wish I never let her hold them yet, because now I dont know if thats the reason for all this or not. I thought it wouldnt hurt to let her interact with them a few mins to get the chicks used to being handled a bit more and it was only maybe 5 mins while I took pics of them together.

Apart from those two chicks acting funny, the others are acting fine so far. I rarely see them pile up unless they are startled. They are usually close to eachother but arent directly under the light. They are more just kinda spread out everywhere. The person who came up with this vitamin recipe told me that silkies tend to have more neuro problems because of their vaulted heads, and also mentioned its possible that their medicated food could be causing it..? She said that if there is too much medication in it, that it blocks niacin and causes wry neck. She suggested switching to non-medicated feed. But that there could be so many factors involved. Like you said it could be genetics to. I just wish I knew which was causing the problem

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

250 watts I would say is way hot. I use a 90 watt flood lamp and even that at 12 inches away is way too hot. Or do you mean 12 I chest above the top of the brooder box? How tall is the brooder box?

Oh man, I was going off of of what they were recommending new chicks. I bought the same bulb they were using on the chicks in all the stores. Its the red 250 watt bulb. Its the only one with the red light. Should I get the lowest watt then even if its the brighter white light? I put it like a foot above the brooder box and the bucket is like 18in high, and nearly 3ft long. It was the biggest one I could find. I think its a 30 gallon.

 

[subhanalah]

I think it is also too hot and they are getting dehydrated. Raise your light and see how they do.

Medicated feed blocks thiamine, not niacin. It is typically selenium and vitamin E deficiency that causes wryneck in chicks. Niacin deficiency in ducks and geese can cause leg problems. Wow that person you talked to really knows how to take a bunch of information, mix it in a jar and pour out whatever happens to be floating at the top!
Have you tried the fermented feed?
Even moistened feed Wil help them hydrate.

 

[Iluvmysilkies]

I only use a 75 watt. And my brooder is 5 foot long.

How high off the ground? And with what age chicks?

 

[subhanalah]

Oh man, I was going off of of what they were recommending new chicks. I bought the same bulb they were using on the chicks in all the stores. Its the red 250 watt bulb. Its the only one with the red light. Should I get the lowest watt then even if its the brighter white light? I put it like a foot above the brooder box and the bucket is like 18in high, and nearly 3ft long. It was the biggest one I could find. I think its a 30 gallon. 

I saw them using the 250 watt bulb at the feed store, the babies were suffering heat trauma and dehydration.
I bought my light at Lowe's. It's a white box that has the red letters "passion" on it. When you open it, the bulb says "flood" on it. It is a 90 watt bulb and would probably work the same distance you have your current light.