Geckolady
Counting Chickens B4 They're Hatched
Only one egg pipped from my incubated hatch, and after 2 days I assisted it out of the shell. Then I went looking for siblings for it, and found a hatchery in easy driving distance. It was a new, start-up hatchery, with a great web site and lots available. They let me drive over and pick out some chicks, which was wonderful because it meant not having to ship them. They said they had over 600 chickens.
I bought 5 silver grey Dorking chicks, and could see how small, thin, and weak the one I'd helped out of the egg was by comparison. It seemed to get stronger, then weaker, then passed a few days later.
I still had what looked like 5 nice healthy chicks. One of them, the only male of the group, never grew, then started doing this weird thing that looked like he was trying to burp, got weak, and died.
I tried to contact the hatchery to see if they had any more males, but their web site was gone. At first the web site was being held, but now that web site name is available. They also did not answer when I tried to phone them.
Another chick stopped growing, did the same burping motion, and died last night. What is going on here? They have chick starter food, water with electrolytes (hydra-hen), and a new Brinsea warmer plate. Since the warmer plate says not to let it contact bedding, I have been lining the brooder with shelf liner and cleaning it and replacing it a lot. There is nothing coming from their nostrils. The brooder is in the warmest room of my house.
What would cause chicks to stop growing, do that weird thing that looks like they're trying to burp, toss their heads back, weaken, and die? They were all the same size when I bought them, and they hatched on May 17th. I have three chicks left, and the smallest appears to be starting this.
I won't be able to get to the computer for a good part of the day, but that doesn't mean I've abandoned this thread.
I started with chickens late last fall and don't have any chicken medicines on hand, so if you recommend anything, please let me know where I can find it. Thank you.
I bought 5 silver grey Dorking chicks, and could see how small, thin, and weak the one I'd helped out of the egg was by comparison. It seemed to get stronger, then weaker, then passed a few days later.
I still had what looked like 5 nice healthy chicks. One of them, the only male of the group, never grew, then started doing this weird thing that looked like he was trying to burp, got weak, and died.
I tried to contact the hatchery to see if they had any more males, but their web site was gone. At first the web site was being held, but now that web site name is available. They also did not answer when I tried to phone them.
Another chick stopped growing, did the same burping motion, and died last night. What is going on here? They have chick starter food, water with electrolytes (hydra-hen), and a new Brinsea warmer plate. Since the warmer plate says not to let it contact bedding, I have been lining the brooder with shelf liner and cleaning it and replacing it a lot. There is nothing coming from their nostrils. The brooder is in the warmest room of my house.
What would cause chicks to stop growing, do that weird thing that looks like they're trying to burp, toss their heads back, weaken, and die? They were all the same size when I bought them, and they hatched on May 17th. I have three chicks left, and the smallest appears to be starting this.
I won't be able to get to the computer for a good part of the day, but that doesn't mean I've abandoned this thread.
I started with chickens late last fall and don't have any chicken medicines on hand, so if you recommend anything, please let me know where I can find it. Thank you.
