What's killing my chicks? Hurry please

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Well here goes another one. Lost my Brahma not too long ago. Same thing. They start crying and then sleeping and next second they can't walk anymore, nervous system goes haywire, they die. What is doing it?? Here's my RIR. Still alive but very cold and fading fast.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

What are you feeding them?
What kind of heat source do you use?
Is their poop bloody?

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

What are you feeding them?
What kind of heat source do you use?
Is their poop bloody?

Chick feed from our local feed mill, I have fed it to multiple of my growing flocks through the years and they have done fine.

The heat source is new to me, a heated pad. They are very content to lie on it and get off and hop around... They are in the mud room so it's the same temperature as the house and nice and warm.

No bloody poop and no signs of coccidiosis, I've had it before in the flock and know what to look for.

Thank you so much for the help!

 

[Tonyroo]

Heating pad is not sufficient heat for young chicks. Ambient are needs to be 99 to 102.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Heating pad is not sufficient heat for young chicks.

I got it off of Amazon... It said it could be used for chickens and I watched their body language closely. They seem fine.

Any ideas on what's getting them?

 

[Tonyroo]

When there body looses consistent heat there auto function starts to fail.

 

[Tonyroo]

Chicks lose heat all the time and they can't generate enough heat themselves.

Consider using a brooder lamp the heat is more consistent and keeps the air around them warm.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

When there body looses consistent heat there auto function starts to fail.

Correct, but they are obviously content. This is not due to the heat I'm sure of it. I've been raising chickens for years and understand when a chick is too cold or not.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

Chicks lose heat all the time and they can't generate enough heat themselves.

Consider using a brooder lamp the heat is more consistent and keeps the air around them warm.

I will in the future. This is my first time using a heating pad. It's electric and plugs into the wall not a microwave one

 

[Tonyroo]

They might seem fine at the time your watching them. But when there body temperature drops it's almost too late to save them. There babies they don't know any better.