Babies dropping & dying!

[Kiki]

The OP stated in her first post: "First time outside free on the grass yesterday (previously carried outside)."

I take this to mean they have been outside more than just a few hours.

The don't even have to go outside ever to contract Coccidiosis.

 

[junebuggena]

The don't even have to go outside ever to contract Coccidiosis.

True, but prior to 3 weeks of age, there is some protection from their mother's antibodies. And to develop severe coccidiosis is rare if never exposed to soil.

 

[Eggsoteric]

Oh, I know.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Their poop is normal. Brown, soft, and holding it's shape. Until they are to the point of not being able to stay awake or move very well. I've had one expel poop which I had posted pics of. (I gave her bath to clean her bum.) The baby died later that night. I've had one expel poop at time of death. Picture was posted, I think. It was like a white/cream colored paint. The rest aren't expelling poop when they seize and die.

The hunched over is the first sign that something is wrong.

Outside temp is warmer than inside temp. The babies are radiating pain. They don't feel "hot". They feel "cool" when the seizures happen and they die.

The babies sleep standing up. Until they can't anymore.

Not interested in food or in water. But will drink if I am holding them and encouraging them to. Will not eat period.

Their feet turn blue/purple.

One had large blue/purple blotch visible on her neck when the sunlight came from the other side.

They all seem to have seizures before passing.

All but one wanted to cuddle. The one that didn't want to cuddle talked non stop until near death. Most of them do. Eyes closed, chirping. (Two died overnight. They went to bed, looked fine, and died during the night. After the very first one died, I moved ALL of the babies to a new location, new bedding, new feeder, scrubbed water feeder.)

In the beginning, they were expiring very quickly from the onsite of symptoms. If I can get them to drink, they last longer.

The areas are cleaned daily. It's what I do. And when I was unable to walk due to the sting, someone else came in to do it.

All of the animals are being treated with Corid water now, although no one is showing signs of coccidiosis. I've also upped everyone's feed and protein. The babies were introduced to fruits and to veggies and to herbs a week ago but wouldn't eat them. They go outside daily now, virgin grass, plenty of sun and shade. They eat the grass and the bugs, I think.

I put fresh onion greens in the feeder. Someone is eating them. (Yeah!!!) This group still will not eat anything but the feed, the grass, and maybe some bugs.

These guys were one day from leaving quarantine when this started. Towards the end of any quarantine, I start talking the animals outside (carrying them) and showing them around. They do not go on the ground, they do not share water or food with anyone else.

First death could have been explained as one of those things, the pack crushed him/trampled him to death (they walk on each other and burrow into piles), could have bonked it's head trying to fly and died. Now, it's clear he was the first death in whatever this is.

And I am at a loss as to what this is. I've never seen or read about anything like this. All of my other flocks are healthy. I usually give newcomers high protein and extra food. Same with these guys.

Maybe it was a genetic thing? Found out the breeder is dumping inventory and getting new stock for next year. Don't know if the breeding was too close for health, ya know & this was a defeat from close breeding?

Whatever it is that is causing my babies to die, it's very sad. I've cried so much in the last few days. I've told my babies I am so sorry they have died. I want to find out what is causing this and how to cure it and how to prevent it.

Someone else must have experienced this with either chickens or turkeys or ducks before!

 

[rjohns39]

@Ravynscroft @casportpony Can you take a look at this thread and offer any advice you can.

 

[Sara Ranch]

Thank you for asking them to review and to advise, rjohns39.

 

[junebuggena]

Could it be the feed? Check the tag for manufacture date. If it's more than a few weeks old, it might have deteriorated to the point of being empty calories, or it might be rancid.

 

[Sara Ranch]

I could not find a date of manufacture or expiration date on the bags of Natures Best feed from TSC. It's organic and GMO free.

The other brand I get, organic and GMO free, is Purina.

The store goes through the feed pretty quickly. I go through the feed pretty quickly. A 35-40# is gone in about 3 days.

The water has always been ACV water. It's well water that has been tested as recently as April. I have a UV light system, a filter, and a water softener.

No chemicals are used for baths, yards, etc. The Corid is the first "chemical" I have brought on the property. No close neighbors.

 

[Kusanar]

Going out on a limb, but could the water softener be the issue? I saw something yesterday saying that some animals will refuse softened water but not normal water. I can't remember where I read that now, but it just hit me when you said you had one. I know it hasn't bothered your other birds... and you wouldn't think it would be that drastic of an issue...

 

[FrankieDoodle]

I'm so sorry about your losses I hope you find out what is wrong with them. Did you get them from the same breeder? If so, maybe it is something they did.