Two more dead

[stayathomedad]

I received my chicks on Thursday morning. One was DOA, and two more died yesterday. Is this most likely caused by shock from shipping?

 

[Hobbley_Farm]

I'm not sure, myself. But who did you order them from. Will they replace or refund?

 

[hinkjc]

You might want to explain your brooder set up as well. This may help identify where a problem resides.

Shipping is hard on them. Did you dip their beaks for a drink when you "unpacked" them? Are they bantams or standard? I usually grind the feed for bantams to give them a good start. Hard boiled egg yolk is good to give them a boost of protein.

Jody

 

[stayathomedad]

I ordered from Mcmurray. Yesterday afternoon I called them, at that time only two were gone, so they refunded me for two. Then last night the third died and now I'm out of the 48 hr window for them to do anything.

 

[stayathomedad]

I have a watermelon box with pine shavings, a 250 watt red heat lamp, temperature between 90-95, 2, 1-quart waterers, and 1- 24" feeder. I'm feeding them Purina Mills medicated starter. I dipped their beaks in the water when unpacking. They all seemed to be fine except for the DOA.

 

[stayathomedad]

Oh, and their all standard.

 

[the simple life]

Do they seem like they are trying to get away from under the heatlamp at all. Like are they huddling under it or away from it?

 

[stayathomedad]

During the night they sleep under it, but while awake their all over the place.

 

[the simple life]

I am wondering if its too warm for them. I know of someone this just happened to and she was keeping the brooder too warm and the chicks weren't drinking enough and they became dehydrated.

Sometimes what will happen too is that the weaker chicks get trampled by the others when they try to crowd under the lamp, doesn't sound like thats what is happening though.

Hope someone had more advice.

 

[Chickenaddict]

Quote:
Keep a close eye on them and add vitamins and electrolytes to their water. I had trouble about 2 years ago when i ordered from mcmurrays... Out of 52 chicks they sent 27 died over the course of 2 weeks. We kept mcmurrays posted over that 2 week period and they refunded us for half the order. They packed them in a box the size of a shoe box with a divider in it so it was wayyy too cramped and a few were DOA. The others that died got pnemonia from shipping. I remember reading something on here about mcmurrays having issues with sick birds which i believe wasn't tooo long ago it may be possible that they haven't fully corrected the problem.