3-week old australorp chick has died

[marcid]

Hi. This is my first forum post and my first time raising chicks.

We have two buff orp and two black australorp chicks that will be three weeks old tomorrow. I came out this morning and Susan, the largest and friendliest chick, had died. I m so upset!

We purchased them at one week old from a woman who got them from an Iowa hatchery. They've been on half MannaPro medicated feed, half Texas Naturals chick starter. I've given them probiotics and electrolytes in their water. They are in a heat lamped bin in our garage shavings for bedding.

Everyone's been acting fine. The only thing I noticed was at 10pm last night after our last chick visit, Susan was sitting in the corner very "chill" as if she was sleeping. I had just been holding her and letting her perch on my shoulder. We noted she seemed quiet but again, we just thought she was sleepy. I found her dead this morning.

I feel horrible! I don't know what has happened. Coccidiosis? Should I call the woman we got her from to let her know and ask if others had losses? Do I need to treat the remaining ones?

I just don't know what happened and I'm so sad.

Thanks.
Marci

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Marci,

Don't feel bad. These things happen to all of us. Sometimes a chick just dies without any apparent cause. If your other chicks are running around and are acting happy there's probably nothing wrong with them. Maybe Susan had some kind of internal problem that was fatal.
It sounds like you were doing everything right.

But to rule out anything contagious such as cocci, you need to check the droppings. Are they watery or firm? Do any of the other chicks seem sluggish, are they all eating and drinking? Are any of the chicks wheezing or breathing with difficulty?

Again, judging by what you wrote I don't think there is anything wrong with the other chicks and this one was just not viable. It happens, and while it is sad, it is probably for the best.

Good luck with the rest of your chicks.

 

[marcid]

I've seen occasional runny poops, but not consistent. Honestly being a first time chick owner I'm not always confident in whether the poop looks wrong or right!

 

[marcid]

The other chicks are acting normal and eating and drinking. I just swapped out bedding, washed water bowl and refreshed water and food to make sure everything fresh and clean.

The weirdest part to me is that she was the largest and heartiest chick. So it seemed anyway.

 

[fiddlebanshee]

Occasional runny poops are normal. Especially if they are a little more light brownish in color. There is a poop-page with pictures of normal and abnormal poops, at some time you may want to look at those so that you know what you are looking at.

 

[Telecaster68]

Sorry for the loss, but it is something you will see happen when raising chicks. In my experience once a chick (or even a full grown chicken for that matter) stops acting like a chicken you know scratching around pecking then there's nothing you can do they will most likely die. Just keep in mind that there's nothing you could have done differently to change this and I hope you have a happy experience with the rest of your chickadees!