Short answer: Day-old chicks die in transit for a handful of reasons: chilling, overheating, poor airflow, crushing in overpacked boxes, dehydration on long routes, and weak chicks that were never fit to travel. Most losses are prevented before the box is closed, at the hatchery, through timing, grading and packing. A fair dead-on-arrival claim needs a same-day count, dated photos and an agreed replacement rule.
Key takeaways
- Count the causes into three groups: temperature, air and handling, and the condition of the chick when it left.
- Weak chicks that are dispatched are the hardest losses to prevent on the road, so the fix starts at the hatchery.
- Some deaths happen after arrival and are not transport deaths, so watch the first 72 hours and record what you see.
- A fair dead-on-arrival claim needs a same-day count, a dated photo, the box numbers and a written replacement rule.
- Agree the policy before the first order, so disputes are settled on the facts rather than on blame.
What transit losses look like
Transit losses come in two forms. The first is dead on arrival: chicks found dead when the box is opened. The second is delayed mortality: chicks that look alive at the buyer's door but die within the first day or several days. Both are losses from the same chain of events, but they point to different causes and need different responses.
Dead on arrival is usually a sign that something went wrong on the road or in the box, such as overheating, chilling or crushing. Delayed mortality often points further back, to chicks that were already weak when they were packed. Keeping both categories separate in your records lets you see whether a problem is in the vehicle, the packing or the hatchery.
The main causes and what to look for
When you open a box and find losses, the pattern tells you a lot. The table below links the most common causes to what you will see in the box, so that you can narrow down the problem.
| Cause | What you see | Where it starts |
|---|---|---|
| Chilling | Chicks huddled together, cold to touch, slow to move | Cold night air, open vehicle, wet lining |
| Overheating | Panting, wings held out, chicks spread at the sides | Sun on the vehicle, sealed boxes, long waits in heat |
| Poor airflow | Sweating, sour smell, chicks gasping near the top | Blocked vents, overloaded vehicle, sealed lids |
| Crushing | Dead chicks at the bottom, piled in one corner | Overpacking, unstable stacks, rough roads |
| Dehydration | Dry beaks, weak chicks, low activity by the end of the journey | Long routes without rest, late dispatch, heat |
| Weak chicks at dispatch | Dead or dying chicks spread through the box, some dying later | Hatchery: late hatch, poor incubation, chilled or overheated at hatch |
| Infection | Pasty vents, navel problems, chicks off feed on arrival | Dirty boxes, poor hygiene, unhealthy parent flock |
Often more than one cause is present. A box that was both overheated and crushed will show both signs, and the worst losses usually come from several small problems adding together.
Chilling: the quiet killer
Chilling is one of the most common causes of loss, and it is easy to miss because the chicks may look still rather than unwell. A chick that has been chilled cannot digest its yolk properly, cannot keep up with the demands of a new environment, and may die hours after arrival even though it seemed fine in the vehicle.
In Ghana, chilling is most likely during the harmattan, when nights in the north can be cold and dry, and during heavy rain, when wet boxes lose heat quickly. Keep boxes off cold metal floors, cover the sides that face wind, and never leave a load in an open area overnight. A chilled batch often has chicks sitting in a tight cluster in the centre of the box, with little movement when you lift the lid.
Overheating and dehydration
Overheating kills in a different way. Chicks have limited ways to shed heat, and a hot box with poor airflow can push them into distress quickly. Panting, wings held away from the body and chicks crowding to the edge of the box are early warning signs. Once a chick is overheated and dehydrated, it may survive the trip but die within hours of arrival.
Dehydration is closely linked. On a long route, a chick that has been hot for hours will have used up its water reserves, even though it may not have had access to water. Keep the time between dispatch and brooding as short as the road allows, and never let a batch sit in the heat while waiting for paperwork or a second buyer.
Airflow, ammonia and the sealed box
Every box is a small closed space. Chicks breathe, produce moisture and droppings, and the air inside changes quickly. Without good ventilation, moisture builds up, the lining turns damp and ammonia rises from the droppings. Those conditions irritate the lungs and make chicks more vulnerable to disease.
The mistake many people make is to seal boxes tightly to keep chicks warm. That feels sensible, but it traps heat and gases. Ventilation holes should be open on all sides, and the load should leave air paths between boxes. Check the vehicle's vents and make sure boxes are not stacked so high that the lower ones are starved of air.
Crushing and suffocation in the box
Crushing is a packing problem more than a transport problem. A box packed too full, or stacked too high, places weight on the chicks at the bottom. Chicks in a crush cannot move away from heat or cold, and they can be trampled or smothered. Losses from crushing often appear as a tight group of dead chicks in one corner of the box.
Pack to the set number of chicks per box, which is 50 for day-old chicks and 10 for turkey poults at Halaal Farms. Do not stack boxes so high that the bottom layer is under pressure, and keep the load stable so the boxes do not shift and drop during the journey.
Weak chicks: the losses the hatchery controls
The hardest losses to prevent on the road are the ones that were already decided at the hatchery. A chick that hatched late, was chilled or overheated in the hatcher, or came from eggs with poor storage may look normal but have little reserve left. Such chicks are fragile, and the stress of transport can finish them off.
Hatchery quality depends on the whole cycle: egg storage, setter temperature and humidity, turning, the timing of transfer and the hatcher routine. Our guide to starting a hatchery business covers the routine in detail. For a buyer, the question to ask is simple: are weak chicks removed before dispatch? A hatchery that dispatches every chick regardless of condition is passing its losses to the farmer.
- Dispatch only chicks that are dry, active and standing well.
- Remove chicks that are weak, sticky or slow to stand before packing.
- Record the hatch time and the packing time for each batch.
- Keep a note of any batch that shows high early mortality, to trace the cause.
Infection and hygiene
Some chicks are lost to infection that they picked up before they left the hatchery or during packing. Dirty boxes, contaminated trays, unclean hands and shared equipment can all spread disease. Chicks are fragile in their first days, and a small infection can become serious quickly.
Hygiene is a daily discipline. Clean and disinfect boxes and trays after use, following your vet's advice on products and contact time. Keep the packing area separate from the parent house and the sexing area clean. Vaccination supports the chicks' defences, but it does not replace hygiene, so both must be in place. Follow your vet's schedule for any disease your area faces, such as Newcastle disease. Our article on Newcastle disease prevention in Ghana explains the broader picture.
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Deaths that happen after arrival
Not every death in the first days is a transport death. Chicks can die from brooder problems, poor water or feed, chilling in the brooder, disease present before they left the hatchery, or simply the stress of a new environment. Separating these causes matters, because the response is different for each.
In the first 72 hours after arrival, keep the brooder warm, dry and well ventilated. Make sure every chick can reach feed and water. Count deaths each day and write down the time and location of each one. Note any sign of disease, such as chicks that are sleepy, have pasty vents or are off feed. Contact your vet if deaths rise, and follow their advice. Our guide to setting up a brooder before your chicks arrive helps you avoid the brooder causes.
How to make a fair dead-on-arrival claim
A dead-on-arrival claim is only as good as the evidence behind it. A fair claim helps the buyer recover quickly and helps the supplier improve. An unclear claim creates arguments and delay. Use this process every time.
- Count the chicks in the presence of the driver, before anything is removed from the vehicle.
- Record the box numbers and the number of dead chicks in each box.
- Take a clear photo of the dead chicks and the box label, and send it to the supplier the same day.
- Note the time of arrival and the condition of the vehicle and boxes if they were unusual.
- Keep the batch number and the dispatch note together.
- Agree the replacement or refund route in writing, following the supplier's policy.
At Halaal Farms, dead-on-arrival chicks are replaced free in the next hatch once the customer counts them on arrival and sends a photo on WhatsApp the same day. That is the process we ask buyers to follow, because it gives both sides facts rather than memories.
When a claim is unclear
Some claims will be unclear. A buyer may find a few dead chicks in one box and nothing elsewhere, or may not be able to take a photo before the chicks are moved. In those cases, talk quickly and calmly, and look at the evidence together. The supplier should explain the batch record, the packing time and the dispatch conditions. The buyer should explain the arrival conditions and the brooder.
The best protection is an agreed rule before the first order. Decide in writing how losses are counted, how quickly claims must be made, what evidence is needed and how replacements are handled. Our delivery page sets out the basics, and our FAQ answers the common questions.
Prevention checklist for hatcheries and buyers
Prevention is cheaper than replacement. Use this checklist to reduce losses from the first day of packing to the first days in the brooder.
- Dispatch chicks the day they hatch, once they are dry and active.
- Remove weak or sticky chicks before packing.
- Pack to the set number per box, with ventilation on all sides.
- Use clean, dry boxes and lining that chicks cannot swallow.
- Keep the vehicle clean, shaded and ventilated, and plan the route with stops.
- Check the batch at each stop and fix problems on the spot.
- Count on arrival, photograph dead chicks the same day and send the record.
- Prepare the brooder before the chicks arrive, with feed and water ready.
- Watch the batch for 72 hours and record every death.
If you are new to buying chicks, read our overview of day-old chicks in Ghana, and our article on imported versus local day-old chicks, which explains how the journey differs for each source. You can also order through our order form or ask a question on WhatsApp at +233 24 915 1503.
Vaccination timing and the first days
Vaccination is part of the health plan for every batch, and the timing matters. Vaccines are given at the hatchery or on arrival, and reactions or stress after handling can add to the strain on a young chick. Follow your vet's advice and your vet's schedule for timing, and do not vaccinate a batch that is already visibly unwell without asking your vet first.
Keep the vaccination record with the batch. If a problem appears later, the record helps your vet work out whether the cause is vaccine timing, a disease the chicks were exposed to, or a problem with housing or feed.
Questions farmers ask
Why do day-old chicks die in transit?
The main causes are chilling, overheating, poor airflow, crushing in overpacked boxes, dehydration on long routes and weak chicks that were not fit to travel. Infection from dirty boxes or equipment can add to the losses. Most of these are prevented at the hatchery, through timing, grading and packing, and on the road, through ventilation, shade and planned stops.
How do I tell the difference between a transport death and a brooder death?
Look at when and where the deaths happen. Chicks found dead when the box is opened are usually transport losses. Chicks that die in the first 72 hours after arrival may have a brooder, feed, water or disease cause. Record the time, place and any signs of illness for each death, and talk to your vet if deaths continue.
What should I photograph for a dead-on-arrival claim?
Photograph the dead chicks together with the box label or batch number, in a clear light, on the same day as arrival. Include a view of the box before it was opened if possible. Send the photo to the supplier with the count and the box numbers, so the claim can be checked quickly and fairly.
Who pays for dead chicks on arrival?
This depends on the agreement made before the order. At Halaal Farms, dead-on-arrival chicks are replaced free in the next hatch once the customer counts them on arrival and sends a photo on WhatsApp the same day. Confirm the policy in writing before payment so that both parties know what to expect.
Can a hatchery prevent weak chicks from being dispatched?
Yes. Hatcheries can remove chicks that are weak, sticky or slow to stand before packing, and dispatch only chicks that are dry and active. Good hatchery routine, correct temperature and humidity, and timely transfer all reduce the number of weak chicks. Ask any supplier how they grade and remove weak chicks before dispatch.
How long should I watch a new batch before I stop worrying about losses?
Watch the batch closely for the first 72 hours, counting and recording any deaths each day. Many problems show up in that window. After that, keep the daily count going at a lower level of attention, and report any sudden rise in deaths to your vet.
Does the route length change the risk of losses?
Yes. Longer routes give more time for chilling, overheating and dehydration, and they leave more room for delay. Short routes with good airflow are simpler. On longer journeys, plan stops, check the batch at each one, and agree the arrival window with the buyer so the brooder is ready.
