I was devastated this morning when checking the nest boxes two of my baby chicks were dead. I am presuming it is because of the cold weather.The hen is a very good mother but sometime during the night they must have got very cold which caused their death. This is the first time I have lost very young chicks at this time of year. I put it down to bad luck and will be re-thinking about breeding them in winter if I have any more losses. Why does this always happen to the your best breeding pair??

Very sorry to hear that Jenene

Breeding in winter can be hard. If the chicks truly died due to the cold maybe something scared the hen off the nest in the night and she couldnt find her way back in. Some early losses in the nestbox happen when french moult is at play too. Generally aged 10 days onwards.

How old were the chicks ?

Edited July 11, 200816 yr by KAZ

Im so sorry

I have lost chicks in the cold before - devastating and i am never breeding in winter again. I am also building a breeding room to protect the chicks from the bitterly cold spring mornings too.

 

Make sure the chicks are truly dead. If they still look pink they can sometimes be warmed up and revived.

i am so sorry to hear of your loss, it is awful when you lose a chick.

Very sorry to hear that Jenene Breeding in winter can be hard. If the chicks truly died due to the cold maybe something scared the hen off the nest in the night and she couldnt find her way back in. Some early losses in the nestbox happen when french moult is at play too. Generally aged 10 days onwards. How old were the chicks ?

They were 3 and 5 days old.

Im so sorry I have lost chicks in the cold before - devastating and i am never breeding in winter again. I am also building a breeding room to protect the chicks from the bitterly cold spring mornings too.Make sure the chicks are truly dead. If they still look pink they can sometimes be warmed up and revived.

Oh, they're definately dead

i am so sorry to hear of your loss, it is awful when you lose a chick.

It's even worse losing two!!

3 to 5 days...must have been the cold Jenene. Mum must have got off the nest during the night for some reason. Is there a night light on ?

I have been keeping my breeding brds inside this winter, it has been sooooo cold. When I start breeding in my new bird room I'm going to have a night light as well as heat lamps for my breeding cages. A night light is a good investment as Kaz said. If the hen gets scared out of the nest for some reaso it means she will be able to find her way back in.

3 to 5 days...must have been the cold Jenene. Mum must have got off the nest during the night for some reason. Is there a night light on ?

No, there is no night light, but there will be from now on!!

3 to 5 days...must have been the cold Jenene. Mum must have got off the nest during the night for some reason. Is there a night light on ?

No, there is no night light, but there will be from now on!!

Necessary Jenene. It makes a difference. Anything can scare a hen off a nest.....cockroaches, moths, noises, anything really. If they cant find their way back in in the dark they sit on the perch with the cock leaving little pinkies with no warmth. Like people are so diverse in "smarts" or lack of, there are some really silly hens who need a roadmap to find their way back to the nestbox in the dark.

With some light you will get budgie chatter through the night but an added bonus is parents feed through the night too and in turn feed their babies more as well.

Edited July 11, 200816 yr by KAZ

3 to 5 days...must have been the cold Jenene. Mum must have got off the nest during the night for some reason. Is there a night light on ?

No, there is no night light, but there will be from now on!!

Necessary Jenene. It makes a difference. Anything can scare a hen off a nest.....cockroaches, moths, noises, anything really. If they cant find their way back in in the dark they sit on the perch with the cock leaving little pinkies with no warmth. Like people are so diverse in "smarts" or lack of, there are some really silly hens who need a roadmap to find their way back to the nestbox in the dark.

With some light you will get budgie chatter through the night but an added bonus is parents feed through the night too and in turn feed their babies more as well.

 

Thanks for the great advice Kaz. As I have my breeding cabinets in the garage I will leave the light on every night from now on. I thought of doing it before, but decided against it as I thought it might confuse them somehow ?? being daylight 24/7??

Edited July 11, 200816 yr by jenene283

They work with it Jenene. My breeders have a light on at night. Ask your husband if he has a car trouble light....the kind that hangs by a hook and you put a globe in it ( used for working on cars...long extension cord ) ....they are great for moving around a birdroom and putting light and warmth where you need it. Change the power of the globe for its different uses.

They work with it Jenene. My breeders have a light on at night. Ask your husband if he has a car trouble light....the kind that hangs by a hook and you put a globe in it ( used for working on cars...long extension cord ) ....they are great for moving around a birdroom and putting light and warmth where you need it. Change the power of the globe for its different uses.

Will do, thanks again

We have a Bug Zapper in our breeding room, it's a good light and keeps the bugs at bay as well

Sorry for your losses mate.

 

Maybe a lamp so it's not so bright

We have a Bug Zapper in our breeding room, it's a good light and keeps the bugs at bay as well :hap:

Me too

We have a Bug Zapper in our breeding room, it's a good light and keeps the bugs at bay as well :hap:

That's another good idea, thanks Denise!