New to raising and seeking help.

[Nicolearemley]

I got 5 isa brown chicks and 1 rhode island red chicken on Sunday at 4-5 days old making them 8-9 days old today. I am concerned about 3 of my chicks. Two of my isa browns are shaking their heads a lot and I'm not sure if I should be concerned. My other concern is that my rhode island red chick started breathing fast with her mouth open around 8 today and it is now 11:30 and she is still breathing heavily. I'm not sure why she is doing so and I was wondering if anyone could tell me if they went through this or what it could be. She has been fine so far up until 8. She is still very alert and turns her head when we talk to her. She's eating still, I tried to get her to drink water and she will not. None of my other chicks are breathing like she is and I'm very stressed out and worried. They are being fed DuMor Chick Starter/Growth food and they have room temperature water that I change twice a day. They are on 4 inches of pine shaving bedding and the heat lamp is about a foot above the bin. Please let me know what I can do or what it could be.

 

[PattyNH]

Congratulations on your new chicks! It would help if we could see pictures of your brooder, as well as know the size of it. If they don't have the ability to get to an area that is cooler (away from the heat source) it would be an issue that could stress chicks and cause open mouth/gaping...

Patty

 

[Nicolearemley]

Congratulations on your new chicks! It would help if we could see pictures of your brooder, as well as know the size of it. If they don't have the ability to get to an area that is cooler (away from the heat source) it would be an issue that could stress chicks and cause open mouth/gaping...

Patty

This is my brooder at the moment. I ordered a pen to use but it has not come in the mail yet so I have to use this temporarily. It's a 3 by 2 foot plastic bin.

 

[kurby22]

This is my brooder at the moment. I ordered a pen to use but it has not come in the mail yet so I have to use this temporarily. It's a 3 by 2 foot plastic bin.

It doesn’t look like a lot of room for them to get away from the heat lamp...maybe try moving the lamp a bit further away? See if that helps any? Might just be the angle of the picture too, but that’s an easy first thing to try anyway?

 

[Nicolearemley]

It doesn’t look like a lot of room for them to get away from the heat lamp...maybe try moving the lamp a bit further away? See if that helps any? Might just be the angle of the picture too, but that’s an easy first thing to try anyway?

I will move it to the one side more and try to get it so that there is a space in the bin to get away. Thank you!

 

[Huntmaster]

I will move it to the one side more and try to get it so that there is a space in the bin to get away. Thank you!

How many watt heat bulb is that? on a small bin like that I use a 175 watt bulb and it has to be about 2 to 3ft away depending on room temp and only on one end to give them a cooler place. And at that distance it is about 95 degrees on hot end and that temp is only for 1st week. need to drop temp each week by about 5 degrees. A thermometer to check temp at bedding level is best way to know.

 

[Vickischics]

I will move it to the one side more and try to get it so that there is a space in the bin to get away. Thank you!

You need to remember the plastic bin retains heat and card board boxes are worse! So, yes moving the lamp farther away.
Check the temperature under the heat source. That temp will determine where your located on the planet. Its 90 here where I'm at so the lamp would need to be far away keeping it between 94-98. They need a place to escape the heat for a bit.
Make sure you give that chick nutradrench or save a chix electrolytes. Dip the beak or dropper some into it.
Keep them hydrated.
Offer cool water in a very shallow dish as they instantly fall asleep in a face forward position and will drown. Put marbles or stones in the bottom of the water dish too.
Keep us posted.

 

[Nicolearemley]

How many watt heat bulb is that? on a small bin like that I use a 175 watt bulb and it has to be about 2 to 3ft away depending on room temp and only on one end to give them a cooler place. And at that distance it is about 95 degrees on hot end and that temp is only for 1st week. need to drop temp each week by about 5 degrees. A thermometer to check temp at bedding level is best way to know.

It is a 250W bulb. I will order a thermometer. I have ordered a pen to transfer them to that is 21" by 45" instead of the small tote I have. When that comes should I also use a lower wattage bulb? It should be here by Monday so I could move the bulb back by 4 feet and keep it strictly to the one side in this tote. I will order the lower wattage bulb if I am going to need it for the new pen. Thanks for the help!

 

[Huntmaster]

Yes I'm sure at that distance with a 250watt bulb they are cooking in there.

 

[Huntmaster]

Just easier to keep temp were you need it in a smaller area with lower watt bulb. Is your brooder tube in house?