8 Week Old Chick Suddenly Sick

GraceLaneFarms17

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I have 9 chicks that are about 8 weeks old - I bought them from TSC September 16. There are 3 leghorns, 2 broilers (yes I know it's time for them to go), 1 Rhode Island Red and 2 sex-linked (have no clue what they are).

Anyways, on Sunday we let them out to free range for the first time while we cleaned their coop. Last night around 6 pm (Wednesday), we fed them as normal and around 9pm noticed that one of the leghorns was huddled by itself in the run area while the rest were in the house with the heat lamp. Upon going out there we noticed it was very lethargic. We picked it up and placed it in the house they have and it sat in the corner all night. I checked on it this morning and it had not moved but it was startled by my alarm clock and jumped up and stood in one place. I planned to bring home some corid, a heat lamp to separate it from the others and move it inside our home, and try to get it back well but by the time my bf got home at 5pm it was dead - but had moved back out to the run.

I know without a necropsy or vet visit it's very hard to tell what it may have had. But these are our first chickens and I'm worried about it having spread to the others. They all seem fine but so did our chicken that died and he did so within less than 24 hours.

I can't for sure say if he had diarrhea or not but my bf says he didn't notice any out there. We purchased some purina medicated starter feed as they were on the non-medicated. We also plan to start Apple cider vinegar in their water. Anything else we can do or look out for? And other than coccidias what other things could have happened? I don't think its mites or fleas.
 

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Sorry for your loss. Coccidiosis can be one of the most serious illnesses in chicks that age. I would watch for any other sick birds who act sleepy, are not eating, or who are hunched or puffed up. Blood in poop or runny droppings are signs. It would not hurt to give a round of Corid for 5-7 days if you decide to treat them.
 
So far, no more sick chickens!
I did give them some table scraps the weekend before for the first time.

However, now I am concerned about our coop. We have one chicken that sneezes when it eats. I think the dust from the grower feed (since it is a fine crushed feed) bothers it. However we will be making some provisions to our coop to house them in at night and letting them free range during the day when they get older.
 

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