Chicks dying

[abarber12]

I got 22 chicks 4 days ago from Meyer Hatchery. So far we have lost 7. One dies and then they all look fine then one starts looking weak and then dies. And it just keeps happening. We thought it could be the setup we had in our garage being too cold. We moved them inside and still dying. I’ve thought through the feed, water, heat, but it doesn’t make sense why any of those things would only affect one at a time. I don’t think it’s coccidiosis because I’ve read on the hatchery website it takes a few weeks for symptoms to show up. I literally don’t know what to do and they just keep dying.
Feed: Modesto milling
Water: tap water with rooster booster
Heat:eco glow brooder. Height is varied front to back and they seem happy under it.
Bedding:just switched over to pine shavings from paper towels changed daily.
Edit: the feed I’m using was opened in December but didn’t get used so that’s what I’m using now. It says can be used for up to 6-8 months after mill date if stored properly. It doesn’t smell bad or look moldy but now I’m wondering if the feed is the problem. Going to get new feed tomorrow. But also if the feed was bad I feel like the chicks would be dying all at once not one at a time.

 

[WingItRanch]

Treat for coccidiosis. It won't hurt them if that's not the problem but will definitely help if that's what's causing the deaths.

Also, might be good to provide a picture of your setup, too.

 

[21hens-incharge]

How much rooster booster in the water? Do they have plain water available too?

 

[abarber12]

Treat for coccidiosis. It won't hurt them if that's not the problem but will definitely help if that's what's causing the deaths.

Also, might be good to provide a picture of your setup, too.

 

[abarber12]

How much rooster booster in the water? Do they have plain water available too?

I did 1/8 tsp in half a gallon. No just electrolyte water.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I got 22 chicks 4 days ago from Meyer Hatchery. So far we have lost 7. One dies and then they all look fine then one starts looking weak and then dies. And it just keeps happening. We thought it could be the setup we had in our garage being too cold.

Feed: Modesto milling
Water: tap water with rooster booster
Heat:eco glow brooder. Height is varied front to back and they seem happy under it.
Bedding:just switched over to pine shavings from paper towels changed daily.

All 22 chicks are under that brooder plate?

Are they drinking, do you see them drinking from the 1 spout?

That's a large number of chicks for what looks like a small brooder.

I'd provide a much larger brooder space and add another brooder plate.

Watch carefully to see if the chicks are drinking well, if they are not, then switch to a chick water station.

Raise your feed station off the floor just a little, it will stay a bit more clean and not get shavings in it.

I'm picky about Grit (Crushed Granite), if they are on shavings, they need Chick Grit. Provide a small amount free choice.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

22 chicks in a dog crate? Wonder if your chicks are getting trampled. That sounds a bit crowded to me. I'd divide them into two groups.

 

[abarber12]

22 chicks in a dog crate? Wonder if your chicks are getting trampled. That sounds a bit crowded to me. I'd divide them into two groups.

They were in a bigger container in our garage but after we lost 6 we moved them into the dog crate inside.

 

[abarber12]

22 chicks in a dog crate? Wonder if your chicks are getting trampled. That sounds a bit crowded to me. I'd divide them into two groups.

There is only 15 now. They were in a bigger crate in the garage and then we moved them inside after 6 passes away.

 

[abarber12]

All 22 chicks are under that brooder plate?

Are they drinking, do you see them drinking from the 1 spout?

That's a large number of chicks for what looks like a small brooder.

I'd provide a much larger brooder space and add another brooder plate.

Watch carefully to see if the chicks are drinking well, if they are not, then switch to a chick water station.

Raise your feed station off the floor just a little, it will stay a bit more clean and not get shavings in it.

I'm picky about Grit (Crushed Granite), if they are on shavings, they need Chick Grit. Provide a small amount free choice.

Yes. We had 2 in the bigger brooder but since we’ve lost quite a few we took it down to one. All 15. Yes. This is temporary because we couldn’t fit the bigger brooder in our house. They are drinking and eating just fine. They have chick grit as well.