6 week old chicks - starved to death - WHY ???

[John-1948]

Breed: Phoenix
Loss of appetite
Weight loss
Lethargic
Mopey and sleepy when near death

Upon performing an autopsy, I discovered that the crop was
completely empty, the breast meat was almost nonexistent,
The stomach and intestine tract was completely empty.
No worms or foreign matter was found in the intestine or throat.
The gizzard was full of sand, no food what-so-ever.
There was a small sack of black fluid between the livers that had
contaminated one liver … don’t know if this was bile, spleen, or pancreas sack ??
When I cut it, black ink like fluid came out.

So….. What made these poor little birds starve themselves to death ??
What can be done to prevent this from happening again with new birds ??
I have other birds in the same cage ... Barred Rocks, Red Jungle Fowl, etc.
Only the Phoenix are affected.

I really love the Phoenix males and want to have several in my free ranging yard .....
but am afraid to get more until this issue is resolved.

 

[casportpony]

Sorry for your losses... Maybe coccidiosis?

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

If you live in the US, many States offer free or low cost necropsy services.

-Kathy

 

[cafarmgirl]

Don't know but I would have suspected coccidiosis. When they start feeling crummy and stop eating/drinking it doesn't take long for their gut to be empty.

 

[casportpony]

Here are some State labs:
http://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/nahln/downloads/all_nahln_lab_list.pdf

And this is how to send a bird for necropsy:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/799747/how-to-send-a-bird-for-a-necropsy-pictures

-kathy

 

[Eggcessive]

I have heard some people here on BYC say that they have used sand in the brooders before, and sometimes chicks will eat it too much of it causing crop problems, so that have stopped using it. I would switch to pine shavings. With coccidiosis I would think there would be swollen intestines full of blood, and the outside of the intestines would have been very inflammed.

 

[John-1948]

I took photos of the autopsy and sent them to McMurray .... They said sorry, they don't have a vet on staff.
(( maybe because I mentioned I did not get the chicks from them ?? But, I did buy over 50 the past year ))

The bird had no blood where it should not have been, no pasty butt, all appeared normal except for the
completely empty entrails .... I know they need grit in the gizzard, but how much is too much ??
I have a sand box in their cage for their dusting off .... the sand is clean ... the cage is clean ... clean water every day.
only this one breed is affected ... Phoenix.
I saw one drinking a lot before he passed away, but, without food, it would take several days
or weeks to completely emaciate like they did.

I really want to get some more soon ..... or even hatch my own ... but I need to get on top of this issue first.

Thanks to all !!!!!

John in downtown Sunny Florida - where the Palm Trees meet the Ocean !!

 

[casportpony]

Send the photos to an avian pathologist in your State.

-Kathy

 

[ten chicks]

I took photos of the autopsy and sent them to McMurray .... They said sorry, they don't have a vet on staff.
(( maybe because I mentioned I did not get the chicks from them ?? But, I did buy over 50 the past year ))

The bird had no blood where it should not have been, no pasty butt, all appeared normal except for the
completely empty entrails .... I know they need grit in the gizzard, but how much is too much ??
I have a sand box in their cage for their dusting off .... the sand is clean ... the cage is clean ... clean water every day.
only this one breed is affected ... Phoenix.
I saw one drinking a lot before he passed away, but, without food, it would take several days
or weeks to completely emaciate like they did.

I really want to get some more soon ..... or even hatch my own ... but I need to get on top of this issue first.

Thanks to all !!!!!

John in downtown Sunny Florida - where the Palm Trees meet the Ocean !!

My guess is Coccidiosis as previously suggested,symptoms fit. Yes,they will become emaciated very fast,days actually,these are 6 week chicks does not take long. You will not see "worms" with cocci,what you might see is blood/damage to inside intestinal walls. If any chicks/older birds exhibit these symptoms again,treat immediately with Corid(amprolium)treating with Corid will not harm them,but not treating if they have cocci will cause deaths.