Cornish Cross 2025

[R2elk]

Nope. Still can’t get the temperature up high enough at night.

If you can get the temperature up to the desired point at the bedding level under the heat lamps, that iis all that is needed. The whole area does not need to be heated. They will do better by having warm and cool zones they can freely move around through.

 

[baymule]

If you can get the temperature up to the desired point at the bedding level under the heat lamps, that iis all that is needed. The whole area does not need to be heated. They will do better by having warm and cool zones they can freely move around through.

I have the thermometer under the heat lamps.

 

[R2elk]

I have the thermometer under the heat lamps.

The temperature right at the bedding level is what matters.

 

[baymule]

The temperature right at the bedding level is what matters.

That’s where the I’m taking the temperature.

 

[farmerjan]

Make a cardboard "surround" so that the heat stays in the area under the heat lamps... Not too high , but it will stop the cold from coming in from the sides and keep the heat that is directed down by the lights... They do it all the time in the big poultry houses... like a corral.... and use it at night...

 

[baymule]

I have a. Barometer hanging in the middle of the heat lamps. This morning temperature was right above 70.


I woke up to a pile of dead chicks yesterday morning. They were in the middle of the tub I had them in. Not crowded under the heat lamp, not crowded at the other end away from the heat lamp. So why the suicidal pile in the middle?

That just cooked my grits. I moved them outside. I hovered like a helicopter mom all day, turning off all but one heat lamps, then turning them all back on before 5PM and checking during the night and first thing this morning. I walked them around often, swishing a plastic bag at them, to get them up and moving. They are fine this morning.

I always plan on losing some, and had already lost some. But yesterday’s suicidal pile totaled 12. So now I’m down to 62 chicks.

I have 24 four week olds in the small coop, so I’m still good on my numbers. The small coop was a chicken tractor, which worked fine until it rained. Then it was in standing water. I moved it to the highest point in the yard, but it was still a failure. Then a hail storm blew the top open and beat a dozen to death. That was 2 years ago. Last year I built up a dirt pad, way above the water puddle line and moved the former chicken tractor to it and now it’s the small coop. LOL

Clearly I need to rethink my chicken raising before next year. Raising meat chickens is the best way to raise a lot of meat in a short time that I know of. I just have to do a better job of it.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Clearly I need to rethink my chicken raising before next year. Raising meat chickens is the best way to raise a lot of meat in a short time that I know of. I just have to do a better job of it.

We learn a lot from our failures, but you'll get it right. I've got an overcrowded brooder right now and I've taken to leaving the top cover cracked open at least an inch just to let some of the stink out. I clean it twice a day but even that's not enough. I'll be setting up some chicks in tubs today.

I wonder if air quality had anything to do with your losses?

 

[flowerbug]

...
I woke up to a pile of dead chicks yesterday morning. They were in the middle of the tub I had them in. Not crowded under the heat lamp, not crowded at the other end away from the heat lamp. So why the suicidal pile in the middle?
...

perhaps a few gathered there and then a few more joined them to keep warm and didn't think it would get too cold at night? is it a metal tub? perhaps that conducted heat away too fast for them and they got too cold and could not move away to a warmer spot? i dunno. just guessing. they're not the smartest when young it seems... they need a mother hen...

 

[CrealCritter]

I have a. Barometer hanging in the middle of the heat lamps. This morning temperature was right above 70.


I woke up to a pile of dead chicks yesterday morning. They were in the middle of the tub I had them in. Not crowded under the heat lamp, not crowded at the other end away from the heat lamp. So why the suicidal pile in the middle?

That just cooked my grits. I moved them outside. I hovered like a helicopter mom all day, turning off all but one heat lamps, then turning them all back on before 5PM and checking during the night and first thing this morning. I walked them around often, swishing a plastic bag at them, to get them up and moving. They are fine this morning.

I always plan on losing some, and had already lost some. But yesterday’s suicidal pile totaled 12. So now I’m down to 62 chicks.

I have 24 four week olds in the small coop, so I’m still good on my numbers. The small coop was a chicken tractor, which worked fine until it rained. Then it was in standing water. I moved it to the highest point in the yard, but it was still a failure. Then a hail storm blew the top open and beat a dozen to death. That was 2 years ago. Last year I built up a dirt pad, way above the water puddle line and moved the former chicken tractor to it and now it’s the small coop. LOL

Clearly I need to rethink my chicken raising before next year. Raising meat chickens is the best way to raise a lot of meat in a short time that I know of. I just have to do a better job of it.

CCX are most definitely not the sharpest tacks in the box.

Jesus is Lord and Christ