2-Week Old Red Broiler Chicks Getting Sick?

[concentric1969]

I have a group of 30 chicks that I got from Ideal Poultry in Cameron Texas. IT's actually the 2nd run they sent me, as the first round came down with the same disease or something. This 2nd round is doing the exact same thing and I have no clue why. I have totally changed everything with regards to their housing/etc. The only constant is the heat lamp I'm using to keep them warm. But at about 2 weeks, one starts to get sick, then several start to get sick, and now one by one, they're all losing mobility in their feet, to the point that they just roll over on their back and stare at you like they're in a coma, but no ability to voluntarily move. I just don't get it. I'm feeding them the Dumor chick feed from Tractor Supply and water. They were vaccinated for Marecs. I cant seem to find anything to suggest a specific disease or anything. Anyone have a clue?

 

[chiknlady]

You can look at several things

1) temperature--if it is too hot or too cold your chicks can get sick or dehydrated
2) what type of feed are you giving them?
3) Have you checked their vents for pasting--if they have crusted waste it can literally seal up their vents and prevent them from eliminating bodily waste.
4) What type of bedding are you using--sometimes chicks can eat bedding materials and it blocks them up?
5) are they coughing or sneezing?
6) Have you thoroughly disinfected their brooder?
7) handling--baby chicks are very fragile--are there any little hands around who might accidentally squeeze too hard?

I hope this can point you in the right direction--if not maybe post some more observations and maybe someone else can comment...

Good luck

 

[concentric1969]

Thank you so much for your reply. I don't think it's too hot. I have a thermometer that reads about 85 degrees right now, and they can get away from the light no problem. I've been giving them the Dumor (from Tractor Supply) chick feed. It's always been fine before.

Vents? Is that their bottom? I haven't noticed any problem there. I'll check though. I had been using pine shavings in this round for bedding at first, but then I just took it all out last night, so now they just have the plywood floor of a building I have them in. I haven't seen any coughing or sneezing. The brooder is a brand new place that's never been used before so that shouldn't be a problem either. And nobody but me has handled them either.

The weirdest part is the fact that they are doing exactly what the 1st round I bought did a month back, at almost the exact same time. ONe by one, they start losing mobility and dying.
Thanks.

 

[sweet_peeps]

Is the plywood flooring "Treated"?
I've heard that treated plywood is poisonous.

Don't know if it's true or if it even applies to your situation.

 

[concentric1969]

Thanks Sweet Peeps! No it's not treated. Just regular old plywood. I had them on pine shavings until today, and they weren't treated either.
thx.
b.

 

[silkiechicken]

Interesting, did you use a new batch of feed and shavings? I've heard of cases where a few bad batches of feed with invisible mold or shavings that were not properly dried has caused early demise of chicks. Molds and phenols from fresh wood can cause neurological issues pretty fast, which may account for the loss of motor control.

Sorry for your loss.

 

[concentric1969]

It was a brand new bag of shavings. The feed was new too. Is there no recoverying from this neurological damage?

Wow, this chicken thing is very tricky!

thx.
.b