4 week olds TINY. Lost 2 chicks in 48hrs to ????

[cherrybrook]

I had 4 chicks at day old. at 3 weeks two became lethargic, had no appetite and no balance. They slept alot and eventually could no longer stand. One died 3 nights ago, the second died 24hrs later. I have no idea what they died from. They were vaccinated at the hatchery.
The other two have so far displayed no symptoms but are tiny. My friends that ordered with us have told me theirs are double the size of mine. I have an ISA brown and a red rock cross. Any ideas or precautionary measures I could take would be appreciated. They are still indoors under a heat lamp as outside temps are still low in the PNW.
Thanks

 

[ShaggysGirl]

Sorry for your losses. I think more info may help to try to figure out what is going on. What is their bedding, what temp is the brooder, what are you feeding them.. food treats etc. Any pasty butt? Any thing else you may think of.

 

[cherrybrook]

The first two weeks they were on pine bedding. Now they are on straw. I did have a problem with the water jar getting filled up with wood chips and the whole bedding getting wet. I was able to raise the jar on a piece of wood to eliminate the problem and switched to straw bedding the following day but I was worried that it may have caused some damage. But I didn't see any problems in them for at least another two weeks after the change to straw.
I feed them chick starter feed only and water. I tried to feed the dying ones a boiled egg but they were too weak. Should I make some for the survivors?
I had to consistently clean the butts of one of the departed but the other 3 had no issues. The survivors I am looking over every few minutes and still very clean in that area.
The brooder is kept around 78-82 depending on their behaviour. Although they are 4 weeks old they are not fully feathered out yet so I haven't dropped it any lower. They do sleep huddled together side by side, but they play and move around happily in this temp.
The only other thing I can think of is they were a little crowded for a couple of days when I was searching for a larger wooden box for them.

 

[LauraG]

I dont know but maybe--

Heat + dampness from water + straw = moldy bedding?

I know hay can get moldy quickly, maybe thats what happening with the straw?

 

[RAWR]

what kind OF feed do you have them on?

 

[ShaggysGirl]

A little hard boiled egg might help. It very well could of been dampness causing a problem. Chicks can get chilled very quickly and if wet even more so. A little unpasteurized apple cider vinegar might help too. I add 2 table spoons in a gallon of water. I'm sure others will pop in with some more insight.

 

[RAWR]

Quote:
very true
try it
AcV works wonders

 

[jossanne]

The straw was my first thought... it does get moldy, and maybe that's causing problems? Maybe the feed you're using isn't a very high quality brand. What's the protein content? Is it the same feed your friend is using?

 

[cherrybrook]

I'm not sure of the protein content as the store is closed so I can't call. I raised 8 chicks no probs last year on the same starter feed and my friends buy from the same place. I did get the straw from a different farm this year and it is definitely different in texture to the previous stuff, but we are an isolated community so my friends all bought from there too.
I boiled an egg and the chicks loved it. I don't have any unpasteurized ACV. Just the regular Heinz stuff. Would that be ok?
I am not sure if I am over analyzing but I think I see a slight sway in the ISA this afternoon. If it did get sick could it be some kind of virus?
I'm thinking about changing them to a new environment. Is there any recommendations for a bedding that is not straw or pine chips? Suggested temperature changes? What size box would be adequate for 2 small chicks?
thanks for your help. I am not new to this site, but this is my first venture in the forums and I am thankful for the quick responses.

 

[nuts4chickens]

Is your feed medicated? If they are huddling together, it could be coccidiosis? Also, it might be worth trying a new bag of feed. I read an article once about a manufacturer getting their chick feed and layer feed mislabeled, and several people ended up with chicks that werent growing, and some chicks even got Rickets from the vitamin inbalance. Or you could just have a "bad" bag of feed? Just a thought.