Not as easy as it seems.

[feathryfrnds]

I'm fairly new to raising chicks, I've got 2 three month old mille fleur d'uccles I've raised, one month old bym chicks I hatched and raised and now two to three week old chicks 2 of which I hatched others I bought from rural king.
I have never had a problem until just recently. After coming home with the chicks from rural king the Ameraucana chicks I hatched (9 total, not including the ones I sold before this) started to suddenly die. I did the research, got the medicated food, changed the bedding, gave the vitamins, cleaned the butts. I did everything right and for some reason they just kept dying.
I am left with 2 out of the 9 I hatched and trying to do everything right for these babies.
I built a brooder out of pallets (not very experienced with building so try not to judge too hard) I assume maybe the problem was overpopulation? Still not sure. I was using a storage bin which worked for the others I raised. I primed the inside with mold & mildew paint and let it air out for a few days before moving them into it. They seem to be very happy with the room, even started to play and got the zoomies. No problems since.
If you have any advice for this newbie please do tell I won't take offense, just want to do what's right for the little ones! Mostly just wanted to share my story as they all seem to be doing great now so I think (and hope) it's over.

 

[Debbie292d]

So sorry for your losses!

That looks like a wonderful brooder. They might outgrow that in a few weeks though so may need Plan B.

Is the bedding pine shavings and not cedar?

Temp should be 95F first week, then 90 and down 5 degrees per week. Sometimes that goes faster as we've had ours off heat in just four weeks, sometimes they need it for five or six.

The only other thing I can think of is if it's some type of toxic fume from something on the pallets or what you painted it with. Are your remaining ones seeming fine and healthy or are they showing any signs of something?

What did the ones that died act like, if anything?

 

[feathryfrnds]

So sorry for your losses!

That looks like a wonderful brooder. They might outgrow that in a few weeks though so may need Plan B.

Is the bedding pine shavings and not cedar?

Temp should be 95F first week, then 90 and down 5 degrees per week. Sometimes that goes faster as we've had ours off heat in just four weeks, sometimes they need it for five or six.

The only other thing I can think of is if it's some type of toxic fume from something on the pallets or what you painted it with. Are your remaining ones seeming fine and healthy or are they showing any signs of something?

What did the ones that died act like, if anything?

Thank you for commenting!
Yes, pine shavings not cedar.
I think if anything I think it may have been too hot as well, I kept them in our second bathroom. I didn't put the lamp too close just in case and would turn off the heat during the hottest part of the day, but then they'd start chirping so I honestly wasn't sure, we don't have a thermometer in that room.
They were dying before we moved them to the new brooder, and seem perfectly healthy now luckily.
They usually just seemed very lethargic when I checked on them before we went to bed and in the morning they had passed, one by one like that for maybe a week straight until I moved them.

 

[feathryfrnds]

I do also have a bigger outdoor brooder for when they're feathered out!

 

[Seaslug]

I also think that your new brooder looks nice. How many chicks were in the tote while you were using it? Could it have been stagnant air inside the tote? Maybe the purchased chicks simply brought something new to your hatched chicks that stressed them?
I think it is incredibly sad when something dies, but I must confess to being constantly amazed that anything ever is alive. It really does seem like everything is working against life and that things ever work out and life even starts and then continues is pretty amazing. But I can only write that because I am removed from your loss (and I don't feel that zen about the recent loss of my 17 year old dog -- I just miss him.)
So I guess what I am really saying is: I am sorry for your losses and I hope things get better.

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I'm fairly new to raising chicks, I've got 2 three month old mille fleur d'uccles I've raised, one month old bym chicks I hatched and raised and now two to three week old chicks 2 of which I hatched others I bought from rural king.
I have never had a problem until just recently. After coming home with the chicks from rural king the Ameraucana chicks I hatched (9 total, not including the ones I sold before this) started to suddenly die. I did the research, got the medicated food, changed the bedding, gave the vitamins, cleaned the butts. I did everything right and for some reason they just kept dying.
I am left with 2 out of the 9 I hatched and trying to do everything right for these babies.
I built a brooder out of pallets (not very experienced with building so try not to judge too hard) I assume maybe the problem was overpopulation? Still not sure. I was using a storage bin which worked for the others I raised. I primed the inside with mold & mildew paint and let it air out for a few days before moving them into it. They seem to be very happy with the room, even started to play and got the zoomies. No problems since.
If you have any advice for this newbie please do tell I won't take offense, just want to do what's right for the little ones! Mostly just wanted to share my story as they all seem to be doing great now so I think (and hope) it's over.

Awww, so sorry for your losses, that is hard to process! Have you added electrolytes to the water?

 

[rosemarythyme]

Could've been something completely out of your hands - the chicks could've had a rough ride to the feed store, or temperatures weren't great during the trip - you never know. If you raised other chicks without issue in this same set up, then it's unlikely that the set up would be the issue.

 

[feathryfrnds]

I also think that your new brooder looks nice. How many chicks were in the tote while you were using it? Could it have been stagnant air inside the tote? Maybe the purchased chicks simply brought something new to your hatched chicks that stressed them?
I think it is incredibly sad when something dies, but I must confess to being constantly amazed that anything ever is alive. It really does seem like everything is working against life and that things ever work out and life even starts and then continues is pretty amazing. But I can only write that because I am removed from your loss (and I don't feel that zen about the recent loss of my 17 year old dog -- I just miss him.)
So I guess what I am really saying is: I am sorry for your losses and I hope things get better.

Stagnant Air is a possibility, I do try to keep it aired out, but I have two toddlers that try to play with them so I'm not able to keep the door open for very long. Thank you!

 

[feathryfrnds]

Awww, so sorry for your losses, that is hard to process! Have you added electrolytes to the water?

Thank you and yes I have

 

[Gezellige_Poes]

I agree with @rosemarythyme. I've also read that stress can be a major factor and cause rapid mortality.