what am I doing wrong

[theberlinfam]

Quote:
Sounds to me like they are too hot. If there's 150 of them in your brooder, they don't need such a high temp in there for they have each others' body heat. Try elevating your heat lamp and see if the ones panting perk up after a few hours. It takes a while for them to recover from overheating/heat stroke.

 

[Buschie's dozen]

over heating 150 chicks ----- 35 in an area 4' x 6' is max so provide areas so they can cool down and not overheat that's what it sounds like or cocci are you feeding pellets that contain cocci remedy or regular chick feed my feed store carry's both i always go with for $2.00 more

 

[Fred's Hens]

x2 on cooking the chicks. Way too hot.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Chicks need space. Space to grow, and run and stretch. Brooding in much too small of tubs and such is a major blunder I see here much too often. Space also allows the chicks to self regulate on the heat/cool issue. Over heating is one of the most common errors in brooding.

 

[hunterblu123]

The area is 5x5 and the feed is medicated for cocci we get it from Kent feed.

 

[Judy]

Agree with Fred's hens. 150 day olds should have 75 sq ft IMO, and will need twice that or more by 8 weeks. There should be plenty of space so those who want to cool off can. Not all day olds want temps of 90-95.

 

[StormyMoon]

What do you have them in? That is true if they are too cramped they may be hot 5 ft x 5 ft for 150 chicks? I think I would keep them probably in something larger and they are right over heating can cause them to pant sort of like a dog might pant.

 

[donrae]

Take the heat down to one lamp. One end of the brooder should have the light, the other end the food and water. Chicks should be able to move out of the heat, they actually spend a lot of time out from under momma when hen-raised. Sounds like you're pretty crowded, you should seperate into at least two brooders, maybe three, each set up as described above.

 

[AlabamaChickenLady]

Quote:
X2

They are probably over heated with 2 heat lamps in that small of an area. That's over kill. I know you were only thinking that with 150 chicks you will need extra heat to keep all of them warm, but don't under estimate the power of body heat. I'd remove the electorlites also. At this age, they should have sugar water if they need anything to perk them up. But offer the sugar water in addition to just plain water.

Good luck.

 

[sheila3935]

I have always given mine the electrolyte/vitamin water for the first 2 weeks and have never lost a chick. Im with everyone else too hot.