I don't know what's happening!! I've been raising chicks/chickens for over 5 years now and have never had this happen. We ordered 17 chicks from Meyer's (Australorps) and in 24 hours 9 have died!! Four died within 12 hours and then my kids get up this morning and 5 more are just lying there dead. They just seem to fall asleep/get sleepy and the next thing you know they're dead. I did cradle one while it was dying and it was just gasping with it's mouth open, but that's the only one that did that. Other ones I've picked up, their eyes will be open, but they can't seem to stand and seem more limp. Normally though, they're all walking around and then an hour later, you go by and one's dead. No pasty butt, but not near the amount of poop I would expected to see out of 17 chicks. We're using the same set up we always have (large rubbermaid, with shavings and heat lamp in the house). We're just absolutely heart broken. One of my boys is like "Just send them back mom, I can't take this."
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