4 dead keets in 4 days

[Relleoms]

Hi. I’ve raised chicks for 8 years but began my journey with 17 day-old mail order keets Wednesday (today is Saturday). Since then, I’ve lost 4; 1 on Thursday, 2 Friday and 1 today. I’ve never lost a chick and have been quickly humbled.
The keets were hatched on Monday, arrived on Wednesday and were put under a heat plate in our garage (on towels day one, then large flake pine shavings). Temps have ranged from 80-89 in the garage. I had them on chick starter for the first day, then switched to meat bird starter Thursday. Today I switched again to game bird starter (30% protein). I also added poultry nutridrench to their water (1 tbsp/quart) and gave them a hard boiled egg yolk yesterday & today. The first three birds were found dead under the heat plate and the fourth was just outside. I believe #4 also had pasty butt (which I washed off this morning) and spent most of the day under the plate while the others rarely went under. Last night many of the birds were half in/half out, so I lowered the temp on the plate a bit, and tonight no one went under the plate at bedtime, so I decided to move them in the house thinking they were staying too hot. I’m at a loss and would love any advice. It breaks my heart and I just don’t know what to do! Side note: I also ordered 4 Spitzhauben chicks and they are in a separate brooder & doing great. Please help!

 

[R2elk]

Hi. I’ve raised chicks for 8 years but began my journey with 17 day-old mail order keets Wednesday (today is Saturday). Since then, I’ve lost 4; 1 on Thursday, 2 Friday and 1 today. I’ve never lost a chick and have been quickly humbled.
The keets were hatched on Monday, arrived on Wednesday and were put under a heat plate in our garage (on towels day one, then large flake pine shavings). Temps have ranged from 80-89 in the garage. I had them on chick starter for the first day, then switched to meat bird starter Thursday. Today I switched again to game bird starter (30% protein). I also added poultry nutridrench to their water (1 tbsp/quart) and gave them a hard boiled egg yolk yesterday & today. The first three birds were found dead under the heat plate and the fourth was just outside. I believe #4 also had pasty butt (which I washed off this morning) and spent most of the day under the plate while the others rarely went under. Last night many of the birds were half in/half out, so I lowered the temp on the plate a bit, and tonight no one went under the plate at bedtime, so I decided to move them in the house thinking they were staying too hot. I’m at a loss and would love any advice. It breaks my heart and I just don’t know what to do! Side note: I also ordered 4 Spitzhauben chicks and they are in a separate brooder & doing great. Please help!

Keets should not be kept on shavings until they are at least two weeks old. They can eat the shavings which they cannot digest, get plugged up and die. If you have keets on shavings you must provide them with appropriate sized grit so they can digest the things they shouldn't be eating.

Check the temperature under the heat plate at the bedding level. I start keets at 90°F measured at the bedding level and reduce that temperature by 5°F once a week.

Pasty butt can be common in shipped keets but can also be made worse by keeping them too hot.

 

[Relleoms]

Keets should not be kept on shavings until they are at least two weeks old. They can eat the shavings which they cannot digest, get plugged up and die. If you have keets on shavings you must provide them with appropriate sized grit so they can digest the things they shouldn't be eating.

Check the temperature under the heat plate at the bedding level. I start keets at 90°F measured at the bedding level and reduce that temperature by 5°F once a week.

Pasty butt can be common in shipped keets but can also be made worse by keeping them too hot.

Thank you for your reply, @R2elk . I called the hatchery and asked advice and they said absolutely no heat plate should be used, a red light only, and that they should on 3” pine shavings . I don’t have a bulb, so they’re still under the heat plate, but I can take out the shavings and see if that makes a difference. They all survived the night but another looks lethargic. It’s the smallest one. Should I treat for coccidiosis, just in case, or is it too early to be exposed?

 

[R2elk]

Thank you for your reply, @R2elk . I called the hatchery and asked advice and they said absolutely no heat plate should be used, a red light only, and that they should on 3” pine shavings . I don’t have a bulb, so they’re still under the heat plate, but I can take out the shavings and see if that makes a difference. They all survived the night but another looks lethargic. It’s the smallest one. Should I treat for coccidiosis, just in case, or is it too early to be exposed?

Many people have successfully raised keets using a heat plate. Some have had to shine a small light under the heat plate because they don't like going into dark places.

Keets eating shavings is a known issue. If they are supplied with appropriate sized grit, the shavings may not be a problem.

It's probably too early to be coccidiosis. Amprolium/Corid is a thiamiine blocker. If giving Corid or Amprolium, don't add Nutri-Drench or any of the other electrolytes since they contain thiamine. The keets need thiamine for proper development. If they aren't exhibiting signs of coccidiosis, don't treat for it.

 

[Relleoms]

Many people have successfully raised keets using a heat plate. Some have had to shine a small light under the heat plate because they don't like going into dark places.

Keets eating shavings is a known issue. If they are supplied with appropriate sized grit, the shavings may not be a problem.

It's probably too early to be coccidiosis. Amprolium/Corid is a thiamiine blocker. If giving Corid or Amprolium, don't add Nutri-Drench or any of the other electrolytes since they contain thiamine. The keets need thiamine for proper development. If they aren't exhibiting signs of coccidiosis, don't treat for it.

The temp at bedding level is around 93/94 while the ambient temperature is 72. I have been offering chick grit in a small bowl and also sprinkled some under the pine shavings. I added a waterer with plain water in addition to one with nutrí-drench. I’ll continue to monitor and pray we’ve stopped the bleeding! I appreciate your help!

 

[R2elk]

The temp at bedding level is around 93/94 while the ambient temperature is 72. I have been offering chick grit in a small bowl and also sprinkled some under the pine shavings. I added a waterer with plain water in addition to one with nutrí-drench. I’ll continue to monitor and pray we’ve stopped the bleeding! I appreciate your help!

I would try to get the bedding temperature down to 90°F. Maybe raise the heat plate a little.

 

[Relleoms]

Dang it, I’m pretty sure I’m about to lose another. She’s under the heat plate, eyes closed and when I lifted the plate she stretched upward to breathe and she sounds gargly, like she’s got fluid in her chest . I am at a loss.
Also, I got the temp down to 90. And they seem to prefer plain water over the nutridrench water. All the others are very active, eating, drinking & running around, then returning to the heat for a nap.

 

[Relleoms]

I’m doing some research and came across brooder pneumonia. Is that a common thing?

 

[R2elk]

I’m doing some research and came across brooder pneumonia. Is that a common thing?

No

 

[Relleoms]

No

I put them in a brand new brooder on towels. Hoping this works!