I have 46, now 45, 5 week old chicks of various breeds. I have had them since they were 3 to 5 days old. Day before yesterday I moved them from one side of the barn to the other into a larger cage. Tonight I came out to feed and as I entered barn one Black Copper Marans appeared to have its head leaned up against the wooden frame of the cage. It looked odd so I shook the cage and woke him up. He stargazed a bit then flopped around and then laid still. He almost appeared to jerk with a seizure as he flapped his wings and drug his feet behind him. The wooden frame had clear liquid drips down it where his head had laid against it. I went in the cage and picked him up. He barely jerked but his body was limp. I felt a heart beat for another 30 seconds or less and then he was dead. Not sure what caused this but all chicks appeared completely normal this morning. They were given some layer feed by my mom but this is not what they have been feed. Just wondering if this is contagious sounding or possibly an isolated incident. Chicks body is unmarked. Craw is not over stuffed but has food and water in it. Neck is not disconnected but a fracture cannot be ruled out. Other chicks show no symptoms but this chick literally just died. Also, his body got cold and stiff in under 5 minuets. Seemed awfully quick to me. He was very much still warm with a heart beat when I picked him up. Opinions?
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