2 week old Cornish X dying

[Sgbj]

Hello all,

I've been having trouble with some CX chicks dying. They are between 1 and 2 weeks old. I started with 24, am now down to 20 with a couple others showing worrying signs.

Symptoms are this, panting, wings out a little, beak opening and shutting, not walking real well(before not walking at all) and just acting sleepy and not active. They seem to go downhill very quickly, going from walking to dead in as little as 30mins. The sick ones are also hanging round the heat lamp and it seems to be the biggest birds having the problems.

I don't know exactly what the broader temp is but have been adjusting the lamp height based on what the chickens look comfortable with.


Any ideas what might be wrong??


Thanks

 

[Morrigan]

What is your brooder set up like and how big is it? Chicks should have room to get away from the heat lamp if they need to, and CX tend to run a little hotter and need less heat than other chicks.

 

[bobbi-j]

I think it's a good possibility. Can you post a picture of your setup?

 

[Compost King]

Hello all,

I've been having trouble with some CX chicks dying. They are between 1 and 2 weeks old. I started with 24, am now down to 20 with a couple others showing worrying signs.

Symptoms are this, panting, wings out a little, beak opening and shutting, not walking real well(before not walking at all) and just acting sleepy and not active. They seem to go downhill very quickly, going from walking to dead in as little as 30mins. The sick ones are also hanging round the heat lamp and it seems to be the biggest birds having the problems.

I don't know exactly what the broader temp is but have been adjusting the lamp height based on what the chickens look comfortable with.


Any ideas what might be wrong??


Thanks

I feel for ya, I am following because I want to know what this is too. Never had this happen to me with CX. I have a feeling someone with a lot of experience will pop in and respond before long.

 

[Compost King]

With as many as you have and as big as CX are even as chicks, you may not need a heat lamp unless temps are very cold.

 

[Sgbj]

The brooder is about 3 feet across. Night temps have been getting down close to 0 (Celsius).

So do you think they're overheating?

 

[Morrigan]

The temperature seems ok by that picture.

How do their droppings look? Any diarrhea? If yes, it could be something like cocci.

Finally where did you get these chicks? Did problems start immediately, or only after you had been brooding them for a few days.

 

[Morrigan]

Also, what type of bulb are you using in the heat lamp? It cannot be teflon coated, as that will emit gasses that are toxic to chickens. .

 

[Sgbj]

The temperature seems ok by that picture.

How do their droppings look? Any diarrhea? If yes, it could be something like cocci.

Finally where did you get these chicks? Did problems start immediately, or only after you had been brooding them for a few days.

I can't say I've paid too much attention to their droppings but I think there may be a bit of diarrhoea. The feed is medicated tho...
Will have a better look.

 

[Sgbj]

Also, what type of bulb are you using in the heat lamp? It cannot be teflon coated, as that will emit gasses that are toxic to chickens. .

How do I check this? It's just one from a local feed store.

Thanks for all the help everyone!!!