Unusually high mortality rates in chicks for 2013

[casportpony]

Sorry for your losses.

 

[wagoncab]

I too have lost huge number of chicks this spring. My were incubator chicks and most of them were from shipped eggs from the same person. I had chicks that did not thrive and died. Nothing n the water but electrolytes and probiotics. The second batch of eggs I got, there were 18. Of the 18 I have 2 survivors. One of them is very crippled. Her legs are twisty. She can get around and eats
and drinks but will never be able to run around with the other chickens.

 

[starlingdaly]

Thank you. It was expected that they would die, but of course that doesn't make it easier.
Thankfully no one else is acting worthy of quarantine! Maybe they will be all right here on out.

 

[starlingdaly]

Poor thing, wagoncab.
Do you usually have good rates and better luck with shipped eggs? I just put my second batch of shipped eggs in the incubator and am hoping for the best!

 

[casportpony]

Adding stuff like probios and electrolytes to water *can* reduce water consumption and cause death.

 

[starlingdaly]

Hmm, may cut my water additive recipe in half and see if that helps.
Gotta refill the water bottle today anyway.

 

[casportpony]

Hmm, may cut my water additive recipe in half and see if that helps.
Gotta refill the water bottle today anyway.

Try an experiment... give just water for 24 hours and make a note of how much they drank, then do the same with your recipe.

 

[casportpony]

FWIW, I change their water if I see any poop or food in it.

 

[starlingdaly]

Good idea. I'll try that today. I use Avian Aqua Miser's watering "nipples" so dirty water generally isn't a problem. Though the container holds enough for 2-3 days worth of water.
The first chicks I ever raised I had trained to drink from hamster water bottles which was awesome until they were big enough that the water had to be refilled 2-3 times a day.
I also observe my chickens for at LEAST 30 minutes each day and make sure they are eating and drinking and acting normal.
I will report back on the water experiment.

 

[starlingdaly]

It does appear they drink a little bit more when the water is plain. I wouldn't think the difference is enough to cause dehydration or possible death.
I will try the halved water additive idea and see if results are similar to the plain water.