Help! Too much Mortality

Hi, I'm new to raising of chicks but since I'm studying Animal Breeding and Genetics in the University, I feel I should try putting some things I've learnt to practice. So far I'd say I've failed woefully. Here is my story. I received my DOCs (broilers) on 15th of October 2015. I ordered for 50, one died even before I got home or from the hatchery (who knows). I made a sugar solution and dipped their beak in the water and they all drank. I put them in their brooder with moderate temperature. I know the temperature is moderate cuz they were moving around healthily, some eating, some drinking, some resting. The next day, I put anti-biotics in their drinking water for 3 consecutive days. Everything went on fine until Day 4 I woke up to see one of the chicks dead. I removed the dead chick and threw it away and cleaned their brooder. Another chick died on day 5, 4 died on day 6, 2 on Day 7. I got really ****** and suspected it could be coccidiosis cuz some of the chicks were listless, no appetite and saw blood in their poop. I started using Amprolium + drinking water on Day 7. 2 more died on day 8. I decided to clean and disinfect the entire brooder on Day 9, but 2 died on day 9 but I think its not as a result of a disease, I think they trampled on them. I used amprolium from day 7-10. One died on day 10 which is 25/10/2015, another on day 11 and another one today (day 12) 27/10/2015. So I decided to introduce Gumboro Vaccine today. Although deaths between day 10-12 were more like trampling and not disease related (I think).

The mortality is just too much, I feel like I'm the most terrible farmer ever. What did I do wrong? Could Rats be killing them? Help me please. Sorry for the lenghty post.

Thanks.

(I wish it was under better circumstances)

Try posting your story over on the emergency/illness forum and have the experts give you some feedback as to what might be happening. Here's a link to get you there:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/10/emergencies-diseases-injuries-and-cures

I'm sorry you've lost so many, sometimes things beyond our control happen and it doesn't mean you're a terrible farmer. I hope you get some answers.

Good luck!

Welcome to the BYC flock! We are glad you joined us!



I have heard of, and personally talked to, quite a few people who had some bad luck losing young broilers this year. We lost a few as well and never could determine what was the cause. It makes me wonder if there is a genetic link. You know, with the entire push to grow them bigger and faster, perhaps other health issues have been compromised because they aren't meant to live long form the get-go. Anyone else wonder the same thing?

Hello again, I believe I answered you on a different thread and suggested you buy chicks from some other source next time, etc.

Hey there again!

You should go to the " raising baby chicks " trend and there are plenty of people over there to help you out but number one I think you are giving you chicks too much meds and a picture of your brooder would help others tell you the problem and the actual temp of the brooder also .....


One more thing are you boiling your water and then letting it cool down then serving it up to your chicks as dirty water will cause problems ....

Agree with above. Why did you need to give them that first dose of antibiotics? Won't that kill the immature good bacteria in their crops as well as anything you were trying to preempt affecting them?

I think I'd stop medicating them and work on restoring the balance of good bacteria that should be in their crops but would after all that you have given them be now gone. Personally I think they are too young to give yoghurt as milk products are not something they would ever eat naturally, but you can buy powdered probiotics from your vet as our vet gave us some after ours had crop surgery earlier this year to repair it's crop flora after surgery and it's round of antibiotics.
I just sprinkled some on a bit of watermelon each day.

I would also feed them a little feed softened with warm water to help it move through their digestive tract each day till they stop dying on you.

Welcome to BYC! I'm glad you joined us!