3 week chicks, acting fine but suddenly dying

[Susan Skylark]

Sudden unexplained death in multiple neonates is most commonly associated with toxin, environmental stress, or certain nasty bugs. You’ve ruled out the toxin possibilities pretty well as well as addressing possible heat stroke. The nasty bug list could be something like an e. Coli, salmonella, or clostridium, a virus would likely have higher mortality and morbidity (sick chicks). If it is a bug, it is basically an overgrowth of a normal environmental or gi bug that produces a nasty toxin that kills the host with no time to get sick. You are doing great with sanitation and cleanliness so it isn’t contaminated water, rather something throws off the natural balance of the normal bacteria allowing the pathogen to over grow and overwhelm the host with the toxin. Think clostridium difficile in hospital patients. There isn’t much you can do to treat or prevent it except sanitize well after this batch and keep young birds separated from older birds for several months until their immune system is mature. Maybe the heat stress made them succeptible? Don’t blame yourself or get upset, it is a fluke thing and happens even in the best managed herds and flocks and all species. Hope the rest do well!

 

[Slater0805]

I am so sorry. I know it is heart breaking. One of the best investments I ever made was a brooder plate so that the chicks could crawl under it to be as warm as they need be. I always adjust it so there is a high side and a low side so they can decide where they need to be. That is along with a warm, but not hot, and very draft-free brooder box. I have made the same mistake with temperature. It is important to cool them down slowly, but surely, while also providing electrolytes, even going so far as to gently drip the water at the edge of the beak of the weak ones. Do so carefully so they do not aspirate. With the correct concentration of electrolytes what liquid goes into their mouths will move across the mucous membranes to be absorbed to some degree even without swallowing. It will take them some time to rebound from the stress of all that has gone on with them, so keep up the extra attention and care for several days. In the end they are fragile, but also remarkably resilient little things. I wish you a better and much happier continuation with them.

I definitely appreciate this! We took 4 years to decide on going through with it and a lot of mindful decision making around it just in time for a fear buying of chicks so this definitely is heartbreaking for me but so far all are moving and walking around and taking to the electrolyte drink so hopefully the minor changes make the difference!

 

[GuineaMania]

I definitely appreciate this! We took 4 years to decide on going through with it and a lot of mindful decision making around it just in time for a fear buying of chicks so this definitely is heartbreaking for me but so far all are moving and walking around and taking to the electrolyte drink so hopefully the minor changes make the difference!

Yay!

 

[Slater0805]

Sudden unexplained death in multiple neonates is most commonly associated with toxin, environmental stress, or certain nasty bugs. You’ve ruled out the toxin possibilities pretty well as well as addressing possible heat stroke. The nasty bug list could be something like an e. Coli, salmonella, or clostridium, a virus would likely have higher mortality and morbidity (sick chicks). If it is a bug, it is basically an overgrowth of a normal environmental or gi bug that produces a nasty toxin that kills the host with no time to get sick. You are doing great with sanitation and cleanliness so it isn’t contaminated water, rather something throws off the natural balance of the normal bacteria allowing the pathogen to over grow and overwhelm the host with the toxin. Think clostridium difficile in hospital patients. There isn’t much you can do to treat or prevent it except sanitize well after this batch and keep young birds separated from older birds for several months until their immune system is mature. Maybe the heat stress made them succeptible? Don’t blame yourself or get upset, it is a fluke thing and happens even in the best managed herds and flocks and all species. Hope the rest do well!

Thank you♡

 

[Slater0805]

Here's an update:
I've not seen anyone puffing out to cool down, instead they're comfortable huddling together. I'll likely offer electrolytes daily ALONGSIDE their regular water. Temperature has emained between 85 near the lamp and 70 on the other side of the brooder. We also did get chick grit as well as an option to prevent any bedding eating becoming an issue since they LOVE to dig in it. Overall, I'm still on a watchful eye but I do think root cause was Temperature which makes me feel awful but relieved to see them seemingly more comfortable. The water hasn't gone down half as much today either so water consumption has SLOWED down vs before and poops all look healthy!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Here's an update:
I've not seen anyone puffing out to cool down, instead they're comfortable huddling together. I'll likely offer electrolytes daily ALONGSIDE their regular water. Temperature has emained between 85 near the lamp and 70 on the other side of the brooder. We also did get chick grit as well as an option to prevent any bedding eating becoming an issue since they LOVE to dig in it. Overall, I'm still on a watchful eye but I do think root cause was Temperature which makes me feel awful but relieved to see them seemingly more comfortable. The water hasn't gone down half as much today either so water consumption has SLOWED down vs before and poops all look healthy!

A couple days of electrolytes is fine but it's meant for short term usage due to sodium level, so I'd discontinue use after that.

Continue to drop temperatures every few days unless your outside temps are high, as you want to acclimate them to outside temps in preparation of moving out. For reference, 3 week old chicks raised outside in cooler conditions would be very comfortable in 50-60s with only occasional need to warm up a bit.

Really hoping that whatever the cause was, that it's over, and that you don't have more sudden deaths. It's often hard to diagnose these things.

 

[Slater0805]

A couple days of electrolytes is fine but it's meant for short term usage due to sodium level, so I'd discontinue use after that.

Continue to drop temperatures every few days unless your outside temps are high, as you want to acclimate them to outside temps in preparation of moving out. For reference, 3 week old chicks raised outside in cooler conditions would be very comfortable in 50-60s with only occasional need to warm up a bit.

Really hoping that whatever the cause was, that it's over, and that you don't have more sudden deaths. It's often hard to diagnose these things.

Our outside temps are minimal 69 and this is likely the cooler side of it this next few weeks. We'll likely see temps hitting 80-90 in around a week or two. I'm hoping so as well though, because it broke my heart how much happened all at once

 

[Slater0805]

Another update: our home is a very old home so kitchen has no AC on when all doors are closed to prevent drafts for them. With the window open away from the chicks it's bout 76-77 but their brooder is 85-87 on the lamp side and 73-75 on the cooler side.
Would you deem it comfortable to have the lamp off for the peak of the day to prevent overheating? They'll be outside before our summer heat hits so that's why we're unconcerned while indoors during this time of year♡

 

[RoyalChick]

Another update: our home is a very old home so kitchen has no AC on when all doors are closed to prevent drafts for them. With the window open away from the chicks it's bout 76-77 but their brooder is 85-87 on the lamp side and 73-75 on the cooler side.
Would you deem it comfortable to have the lamp off for the peak of the day to prevent overheating? They'll be outside before our summer heat hits so that's why we're unconcerned while indoors during this time of year♡

At 3 weeks mine were outside with temps mainly in the 40s but dropping to the 20s one night (yes I was anxious).
Mine had a heat plate to use if they needed to warm up but they were using it only at night by that age.
Take it slow but I think you can continue to lower the temperature and they will be fine.
If you are watching them you will know if they feel cold because they make a big fuss about it. Such little critters can peep peep in an ear splitting way!

 

[Slater0805]

Final update: our solution is light off during the day but on through the night! Leaving it on and further away was still too warm and one got too stressed out like the previous ones did( does not make me feel great knowing the cause was preventable) however she is doing GREAT after no light and electrolytes ♡ they're all very happy and active again!