1 week old chicks, happy to dead in hours

[DobieLover]

View attachment 1710045 I got dosage of 2tsp/gal from another thread on BYC, but it was for hens. I just wanted to make sure it was the same for chicks.
They have starter crumbles, no grit yet. They dig around a lot and probably have eaten a few bits of shavings and/or paper, but nothing noticeable. It's my daughter's project and the starter crumbles she got Nutrena Nature Wise, and it doesn't say medicated. She was very insistent that since they were vaccinated she needed non-medicated starter...
I gave them electrolyte for the first few days and they have had plain water for about a week now.
I'm going to look up wry neck, especially since the first one looked like it's neck was broken. Meanwhile, here is a pic of their setup.

What were they vaccinated against?
Your dosage is correct.
It will not hurt them at all to start them on the Corid immediately and could very well save their lives if that is what is going on.
I would put a container of chick grit in there with them. Try to secure it some way so they will not dump it in the brooder or poop in it. They will do both if they can.
Your set up looks fine.

 

[aart]

She was very insistent that since they were vaccinated

They were vaccinated against coccidiosis?
Did it happen to mention what strain(s)....
...I don't actually know if that is even possible, but there are different strains.
Is it possible your daughter handled other birds then the chicks without washing and changing clothes in between?
Just a thought about where whatever did kill the chicks came from.

Sorry for your troubles, rough stuff.

 

[Dawnica]

Thanks so much for the help! I was thinking maybe one of the kids went from dog/cat to chicks without washing hands, transferring the bacteria.
After considering wry neck I'm sticking with my original diagnosis of coccidiosis. None of them have ever seemed like anything was wrong with how they hold their heads. It sounds like with wry neck they can't hold their head up, then they lose other body functions. These were outwardly healthy babies, but dropped dead suddenly. Just got back from Co-op with Corid. Mixing it up now.
The girl is sad, but we've lost chickens before, so it's not new to her. She is more starting to worry because she has to put 3 hens in the show and then they will be auctioned. She's afraid she won't have 3 left!

The Co-op has a batch of Americaunas coming in next week... I've always wanted Americaunas

 

[Dawnica]

I thought they shouldn't have grit until 2 weeks of age??
Sorry, babies are much harder than the 16 week pullers we've gotten before!! Whew!

 

[DobieLover]

I thought they shouldn't have grit until 2 weeks of age??
Sorry, babies are much harder than the 16 week pullers we've gotten before!! Whew!

Chicks start picking at little pieces of grit when they are out with momma hen before 2 weeks old. Momma hen does not stop this.

 

[Dawnica]

Oh, and I don't know what they may be vaccinated against, they just said the chicks would arrive vaccinated.

 

[aart]

The Co-op has a batch of Americaunas coming in next week

AmeriKindas.....Easter Eggers most likely, but still, good chance of blue/green eggs.

 

[Dawnica]

I'm not a stickler for pure bred anything
I just love a variety of egg colors!

 

[paneubert]

I am going to steal "AmeriKindas" @aart . May even be one of my chicken's names....

 

[Al Capon]

AmeriKindas.....Easter Eggers most likely, but still, good chance of blue/green eggs.

Oh Gees,..don't give the hatcheries any new ideas. Now along with Americaunas, Americanas, Aracuanas, someone will sell AmeriKindas...