2 of my week old chicks have died in seperate brooders

[gabrielj]

i have about 40 Cornish crosses and 12 black giants and 8 barred rocks
the Cornish are in their own brooder and the giants and rocks are in their own.. found a dead giant and a Cornish almost dead (separate brooders)
giving them non medicated starter grower
some of the other Cornish seem kind of like they're panting a lot

the only change I made to the Cornish is moved them to a larger brooder.. (a $10 swimming pool from Walmart)
the garage I am keeping them in prob has some mold in it... could that harm them?

 

[Eggcessive]

Mold is very bad and can cause aspergillosis, a fungal infection. I would get them somewhere with very good ventilation over head, but not a draft directly on them. Do you have a thermometer in the floor of your brooders to check temeratures? They all look to be avoiding your heat lamp in that picture, and they need a cooler area to get into. After a week they only need 85-90 degrees F for the warmest spot. They will be jumping over the sides of your pool soon, too. I make plywood or OSB brooders 2 feet tall, and still need a screen lid after the second week for the jumpers.

 

[Eggcessive]

You probably should put some electrolyte/vitamins in their water for a day or two. If you notice any diarrhea or puffing up/huddling, they may be getting coccidiosis, and Corid or amprollium is the treatment.

 

[gabrielj]

is there any organic treatment?

 

[Eggcessive]

is there any organic treatment?

Corid or amprollium, the generic name is a thiamine inhibitor of the coccidia organism, not an antibiotic. Many organic farmers use it, including one of our moderators here on BYC. There is no egg withdrawal time with Corid. Another brand name is Ampromed that some stores sell. If one uses a sulfa drug such as Di-Methox or Sulmet to treat coccidiosis, then those are sulfa antibiotics. Dosage of Corid is 2 tsp of liquid (or 1.5 tsp of powder) per gallon of water for 5-7 days. Treat all birds at the same time with this only source of water. Then after finishing Corid, give probiotics or a bit of buttermilk or yogurt, and some vitamins for 3 days after to help the gut bacteria.

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some articles you may wish to read about coccidiosis:
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/2/Coccidiosis Management/43/symptoms-and-diagnosis
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/publications/6/diseases-of-poultry/206/coccidiosis
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/12/coccidiosis-what-backyard-chicken.html

 

[Eggcessive]

I just wanted to add that panting can be a sign of being too warm. It isn't uncommon to lose a chick with a large group, but just watch out for the symptoms of coccidiosis in case that could be the reason for the deaths.