Yo baby Yogurt for 1 week old chicks

[sarasmith97]

My assorted bantams from Tractor Supply were hatched last Monday. I purchased them on Sunday, March 27. I have lost 2 of my 4 chicks.

They are eating well. They seem to be very comfortable with the temperature. No crowding around the lamp or pushing against the edges of the brooder. They are drinking water. I know one was weak when I brought it home, but I was shocked

to find another baby passed away around noon today. I just don't know what to do. Maybe more protein. If so how do I get them to eat the yogurt. They are not interested in it at all.

Please see pics below of my brooder and let me know if anything looks crazy out of line, like a baby chick killer.

 

[sarasmith97]

Looking at the pics, they do look like they are trying to hug the sides of the brooder, but that is because they are just trying to get away from my obnoxiously large camera.

 

[clairabean]

Can they get wet in the waterer?

I was given some great advice on chicks. When you think they may be sick, it is probably just shock. Stop messing with them, and they will be fine. Maybe this works for you....?

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Do you have a thermometer inside the brooder? Is there a space that is not directly under the lamp where their food and water is and they can get away from the heat if need be? Have you checked for pasty butt? What are they being fed? What is their bedding?

 

[AKsmama]

I'm sorry you've lost two of your babies.

From the picture, it looks as though they have no area to escape the heat lamp. Maybe the pic is misleading, but they really need to be able to get away from the heat if they get too hot. Do you have a thermometer in there at all?

As far as the yogurt- I know a lot of people will tell you yogurt is great for them, but dairy really should be avoided, particularly at this age. Chickens just do not digest it well. Don't get me wrong, a little isn't going to hurt, but if you think they need protein, I would suggest cooked egg yolk as a protein boost over yogurt. Chicks are terribly afraid of new things and there's not much you can do to get them to try new foods other than expose them to it again and again. They'll get it eventually.

And sometimes chicks just don't do well. There's nothing you did wrong. It just happens.

 

[Judy]

I agree, no place to get away from heat.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39604

 

[sarasmith97]

Thanks so much for the replies! They can get wet in the waterer. I have seen them get in there some. I am going to stop and get a new thermometer on my way home from work today. The one I was using wasn't very reliable.

They are on 20% starter/grower and drinking lots of fresh water. I change it a couple times a day so it doesn't get too hot from the lamp.

I hope to god, that the chicks that I thought were dead were really dead. Because otherwise, they definitely are now. I just was afraid if I didn't get the dead bodies out the others would start pecking at them and get cannibalistic.

 

[sarasmith97]

Bedding is pine shavings on top of an old towel. I have been changing the shavings once a day. I took the yogurt away from them until I could get on here and get some solid advice about what people thought and who had tried it before.

 

[Yay Chicks!]

Quote:
If the water is getting heated up by the lamp, then perhaps there is not enough of a "cool side" to the brooder.

 

[galanie]

So far as yogurt, they can digest it just fine. In fact people who are lactose intolerant can eat yogurt with no problems. However, they don't need a lot of calcium, it can be harmful in fact for chicks. That said, I have given mine yogurt as a treat once or twice. I think if you don't give it to them very much it's just fine. I think of it as a probiotic that must be used with babies in great moderation.