urgent! I am raising chicks off season NEED EGGSPERT FAST

[S&N Livestock]

I think its the heat lamps at 8 weeks they shouldnt need 80+ temps yes they will act like they want the heat by huddling and this is where the trouble starts they smother the bottom chickens gradually reduce the heat source and then see if that helps.

 

[LauraSBale]

I agree with the Meds, don't put any thing in the water except electrolytes w/ probics, just use the med feed, and try putting the heat lamp in the middle so the don't cuddle in a corner. to much meds will hurt their liver and digestive track. and if their gut has no good Bactria, it hard for their digestive track to absorb the nutrients. and they will get wet poops Diarrhea

 

[Katy]

That old of chicks does not need that much heat....especially with the temps you're having. I have 4 week olds outside with no heat except for a 60 watt bulb at night. I don't use that much wattage for newly hatched chicks.

 

[neferset]

Quote:
Mine don't have a light now other than the daylight coming though the big picture windows. Not even at night. Not even a regular light bulb. They are doing a lot better. I think it's because they have nothing to crowd over into. They are also starting to act like normal birds again.

I haven't had this happen with any other brooder. Even the brooder with the bantam EEs is fine.

 

[Chook-A-Holic]

I noticed that you mentioned heavy plastic. How much ventilation do you have? Although chicks that age need to be kept somewhat warm, they need plenty of fresh air. My vent openings are equal to 1/4 of the total floor space.

Something else you may want to think about... the plastic may be out gassing from the heat lamps.

Just throwing some possibilities your way.

Marty

 

[maf2008]

Thanks everyone... I HAVE decided... last night I went out to the rabbit hutch...pulled back the 2 heat lamps to reduce the heat by
2 feet. (inside temp was 75/80 the chicks seemed fine. next morning 6 more DEAD.

I think it may be bacterial.....?

I did use flay spray 3 feet below on the cement under the rabbit hutch. Iam FINISHED with throwing away baby chicks! I will put all of these living back in the baby cage and make a "hoop standing circle" of harwdare cloth and cover the top with chicken wire ....... I will fashion 1 x 2's for a frame and hang my lights for this inside my garage. I just got a shipment or speckled sussex and I REFUSE TO let these die.

I may never know what it is killing my chicks... they will all stay in the garge and not the covered rabbit hutch for now... thanks for the help all any more comments appreciated. thanks

 

[neferset]

Flay spray? Is that Flea Spray by any chance? Or Fly Spray?

There have been a number of animal deaths associated with non prescription flea products that I've heard about. It's mainly cat and dog deaths, but those are the animals most often associated with flea products.

 

[Big C]

Thinking that your trying to take "too good care" of them.
At 1 month they should have plenty of heat and also plenty of room to roam away from.
Chicks we get from a hatchery are raised with minimal "meds", a large place to roam around in. 50% starter and 50% scratch, along with alfalfa hay. Our raise to lay ratio is 95%.

In our broody pen 2 of our hens just hatched several. We only added a chick waterer (with the same water the hens get) and some scratch grains for the chicks. After a week they are old enough to reach the hen feed which is 75% layer 25% mix of scratch and black oil sunflower. We have the same raise to lay ratio.

 

[maf2008]

UPDATE PROBLEM SOLVED!!!! Ugent! I am raising different breed chicks off season NEED "EGGSPERT" FAST

Thanks for all of the quick responses.... I determined the problem. In the last two days, NOT ONE chick has died due to the rabbit hutch problem!! NOT ONE,

Its not meds, water, lights, heat, hay, plastic... the problem was just night air. With heatlamps (no matter how many) the chicks were sqishing each other for warmth...... So I made my own "flex slip net brooder" Put the chicks in my garage with lights and they are all doing fine!!!!

(I will provide photos later) I basically bought a roll of

1) plastic chicken wire
2) 1x2
3) staple gun

I made a circle of the wire, stapled the 1x2, and folded in a "circle" and hung the heat lamp from the 1/2 over the top......
In 10 minutes I solved an ongoing problems that was costing me to lose lots of chickens!!! remember NO NIGHT aire for chicks ever!

Thank you all for your help. (may I never lose another chick again!!!)

 

[Katy]

I really don't think the night air was the problem. Mine have always survived the night air just fine. It's more likely that with their more open brooder area now, they aren't being cooked in a plastic-sheeting enclosed over heated area.