How to raise Backyard Chickens: Re: [CHICKENS-101] Too hot for chicks?

Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Re: [CHICKENS-101] Too hot for chicks?

Laura, I wonder if the heat stressed the hen who laid the egg so there was not enough nutrients in the egg for the chicks to be normal? Wonder if the extra water that chickens have to drink to cool off depleted their bodies of needed nutrients just enough for the chicks to have neurological problems after hatch?

Cathryn
rainbowsilkies MI

From: Laura A. Roberts <laura0554@hughes.net>
To: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wed, July 27, 2011 1:41:37 PM
Subject: RE: [CHICKENS-101] Too hot for chicks?

Yes, like infants. They can't regulate their temperature……..heat and cold are harder for them. I have lost three hens and two rabbits. My itty bitties are in the insulated garage brooders. Two keets have the wobblies and I don't know if they will survive. I think they were trampled and smothered in the large brooder. Trying Vit Bs to pull them through. I have one itty in the bator that can only lay on it's side and spin……..something wonky with it. If it doesn't improve and the other two keets don't stop their shaking, I will euth. I hate seeing them this way.

Laura

Laura Roberts

R Half Pint Farm

Spotsylvania, VA

From: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com [mailto: CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com ] On Behalf Of Debbie Adams
Sent: Wednesday, July 27, 2011 1:10 PM
To: Chickens 101
Subject: [CHICKENS-101] Too hot for chicks?

Its been in the high 90s and over 100 here in Northern Virginia . All
my birds have bowls of fresh water that I change daily and of course
plenty of food. My back yard is shaded with trees. I have 6 week old
chicks out with my flock. They're in a fenced in area with 4 month
old birds. Out of the dozen chicks, I have, over the course of
several days, found 4 dead. Not a mark or sign of injury on any of
them.... its as if they just lay down and die. Not another bird in my
flock shows any sign of illness. These are chicks I hatched myself
from my own eggs. I assume its the heat? Are younger birds less able
to handle heat than the older birds?

--
Debbie Adams