a chick died randomly! help please!

[Tarac]

I had a chick die randomly, and fast. It was fine Saturday morning. I noticed it was "excluded" from my other chicks and sleepy/lethargic compared to earlier in the day but it was night and ate and drank on it's own when roused at that point. I was away most of today and when I got home it was unresponsive. It died in my hands a few hours later.

I am worried something contagious was the culprit because I have only a few chicks and am not sure what to do. No obvious signs of injury, no bloody stool, no pasty butt or respiratory discharge. It was hatched on the 28th of March and has been on medicated feed from day one, unfiltered ACV since day one, on sand, proper temps since day one, etc. I use a lab grade thermometer.

Should I treat for cocciodisis or something just in case? No swollen crop (empty) or any of the indications I read to watch for. I just don't want anything to kill my other chicks as I am a true "backyarder" in an urban setting with only six other chicks.

It was heartbreaking. Any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[loveourbirds]

your doing all you can do. chicks like chickens hide illness well. with medicated starter your chances of cocci are slim, but you can medicate just in case.

there are several things other than cocci that can kill chicks, other bacterial problems, tumors, poisonous bugs are just a few. some are just not destined to make it.

as a rule of thumb if your raising 8 or more out of 10 your doing great.

sorry to hear about the loss, I know we all get attached very quickly.

brian