3 week chicks, acting fine but suddenly dying

[Iluveggers]

Any air fresheners in the room (plugin/wall/etc?) Cooking w Teflon nearby? Is your bulb Teflon? Other chemicals sprayed/cleaning supplies used in the room? Just trying to rule out accidental problems!

 

[GuineaMania]

Do you have another place to put your brooder temporarily to see if the environment change does anything?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any air fresheners in the room (plugin/wall/etc?) Cooking w Teflon nearby? Is your bulb Teflon? Other chemicals sprayed/cleaning supplies used in the room? Just trying to rule out accidental problems!

^ Good questions, since the brooder is in the kitchen I should've thought of that.

 

[Slater0805]

They can have Chick Grit at hatch...

If they play on the soda rack that's fine. In both photos it looks like they are avoiding the area, so had wondered if they thought it was a barrier.

They just got up from sleeping (close to the heat lamp) when I took pictures I'll remove it to see if there's a change! Can't hurt to try!

I'd introduce grit now, it'll help with any bedding they might ingest.

The "roost" does kind of eat up space but a larger brooder would fix that issue. They are a bit packed in there considering their age. Do you happen to have the coop ready or something that could work as a larger brooder. If the coop is ready, can you run electricity to it and what are the ambient high/lows like in the coop?

Again none of that is the cause of death, but might as well give the rest the best chance of making it to adulthood.

It began to rain as I was working on the coup frame actually so we had to put a pause to it today! We have no means of putting electricity to it currently in it's location following the city rules and regulations being near neighbors and not visible by road we also did have a recent temp drop & dramatic rise going from low 30s to mid 80s this past week - and now that I'm digging more into the stress side with heat and dehydration I do think it's stress related to heat changing so rapidly. I just have to add the walls, roof, flooring and roost for the coup to be finished and then we can enclose the run for them to go in. Again our goal was to let them have outside time at 5w so it'll be finished by then.

Any chance anyone has a quick homemade recipe for electrolytes prior to tomorrow to boost them overnight?

 

[Slater0805]

Do you have another place to put your brooder temporarily to see if the environment change does anything?

I wish I did, but this was our only open spot until we finish our new bedroom for hubby and I which won't be closer to finished until end of year.

 

[GuineaMania]

I found this online:

• 1 cup warm water
• 2 teaspoons granulated sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda

 

[rosemarythyme]

Any chance anyone has a quick homemade recipe for electrolytes prior to tomorrow to boost them overnight?

1 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon baking soda

Gatorade also works, if you happen to have some sitting around.

 

[GuineaMania]

Raw honey is also good for them

 

[IsayOsiyo2U]

I am so sorry. I know it is heart breaking. One of the best investments I ever made was a brooder plate so that the chicks could crawl under it to be as warm as they need be. I always adjust it so there is a high side and a low side so they can decide where they need to be. That is along with a warm, but not hot, and very draft-free brooder box. I have made the same mistake with temperature. It is important to cool them down slowly, but surely, while also providing electrolytes, even going so far as to gently drip the water at the edge of the beak of the weak ones. Do so carefully so they do not aspirate. With the correct concentration of electrolytes what liquid goes into their mouths will move across the mucous membranes to be absorbed to some degree even without swallowing. It will take them some time to rebound from the stress of all that has gone on with them, so keep up the extra attention and care for several days. In the end they are fragile, but also remarkably resilient little things. I wish you a better and much happier continuation with them.

 

[Slater0805]

^ Good questions, since the brooder is in the kitchen I should've thought of that.

No! That was my first question to MIL whose room is next to the kitchen! We got them and told her we cannot use any scent or smelly things to light up until they're outside! She usually uses those things but hasn't while they've been indoors! We also only use cast iron and avoid any smoke from it as well. Other than dawn, vinegar, and baking soda i don't use any hard cleaners around them either to avoid any lung issues possible.