11 days old chicks dying left and right!

[TrystInn]

I'm wondering if there might be some issue with McMurray right now - out of our order of 41 we've lost 10. Part of this was due to larger chicks smooshing their smaller (but not bantam) breed brooder siblings, but we had 1 DOA and lost 6 within an hour of arriving. The other 3 died within 2 days.

 

[rancher hicks]

"Have to disagree about where you'll find the experts on raising chicks. There's more knowledge here on BYC than in any book you're going to find"



I didn't mean to insinuate there are no experts here. On the contrary there are some very knowledgeable poultry owners here and I've turned to them myself. However not everyone who gives advice here is an expert including myself. Which is why I can only relate to my experience and what I've read from the experts. This is why I advise everyone to read what the experts wrote first and try to avoid as many problems as we can. And you are right there is more knowledge here but not all of it is correct . It is however easier to find information through the index of a book, than sift through all the postings on this site.

I gave the OP the advice I did because from a "combination" of having read every book I can on Poultry keeping and my experience and advice I got here, after one year this Feb 25th I will have lost only one chick. And that chick is one I hatched myself. It died after about one week from hatch. None of the other 5 did.

Again I apologize to anyone who took offense.

 

[Terri O]

Quote:
Unless they were vaccinated at the hatchery for coccidiosis the medicated feed won't have any negative effect.

Purina makes medicated Purina Start & Grow and that is all I've raised chicks and ducklings on for years.

Have to disagree about where you'll find the experts on raising chicks. There's more knowledge here on BYC than in any book you're going to find.

Katy did you really mean to say that you raise ducklings on medicated starter/grower? I had always heard that any medicated feed should never be used with waterfowl. Thanks--Terri O in WI

 

[fstjmy04]

Hi
My name is James i think your chicks have mites sounds like there work I have 2 left out of 19
I have my own emergency my birds are in bad shape with mites and lice and I cant stop them.
Mites can kill ckicks very fast they chirp everytime they are bit I have been bit it hurts

 

[kyeschicks]

What I would do is move the lamp so that one side of the box is warmer and the other side is cooler and they choose on which side they want to be in. Next I would provide chick starter and water 24/7 (if they're NOT broilers) and last I would use pine shavings with NO cedar! that kills them.

 

[Katy]

Quote:
Unless they were vaccinated at the hatchery for coccidiosis the medicated feed won't have any negative effect.

Purina makes medicated Purina Start & Grow and that is all I've raised chicks and ducklings on for years.

Have to disagree about where you'll find the experts on raising chicks. There's more knowledge here on BYC than in any book you're going to find.

Katy did you really mean to say that you raise ducklings on medicated starter/grower? I had always heard that any medicated feed should never be used with waterfowl. Thanks--Terri O in WI

yep I raise my call ducklings and all my chicks on Purina Medicated Start & Grow.......have for many years. As long as the meds in the starter is amprol/amprolium it's perfectly fine to use for ducklings.

 

[Terri O]

Quote:
Katy did you really mean to say that you raise ducklings on medicated starter/grower? I had always heard that any medicated feed should never be used with waterfowl. Thanks--Terri O in WI

yep I raise my call ducklings and all my chicks on Purina Medicated Start & Grow.......have for many years. As long as the meds in the starter is amprol/amprolium it's perfectly fine to use for ducklings.

Well thanks--guess I am not too old to learn something every day...seems like I am too old for a lot, but not that! Thanks--Terri O

 

[exoticduckluvr]

I have always heard that to about med. feed and ducks. I have had my exotic ducks for years. Just getting into chickens. Mazuri waterfowl feed is very expensive but all I use. Have never had any illnesses or deaths except for new purchased that I found out were full of worms after it was to late. I have heard of Purina duck feed but can't get it around here anywhere

 

[KatieH]

Quote:
IDK, I got 32 from McMurray 2 weeks ago and haven't lost any.

 

[Michele S]

I don't have any answers for you, but I also ordered from McMurrays two weeks ago and I got 26 and all 26 are alive. I did not give them any booster. I just started them right on Flockraiser because they are meat chickens. I would be freaking out if all of mine were dying. So sorry.