Baby chicks died

[mattrisch]

I am having problems with our baby chicks dying and hoping someone can let me know if I am doing something wrong because I do not want to lose anymore. The first chicks were shipped to us and I gave them electrolytes right away and fed them a non medicated starter feed. I started losing one a day. They would seem fine and when checked on a couple hours later there would be a dead one. I also gave them a probiotic but that did not help. I then switched them to a medicated feed. 1 chick survived out of 11. Then I hatched some shipped eggs. Same thing happened again. This time though I gave the electrolytes and probiotic right from the start
and also the medicated feed. I added scrambled eggs once they started dying again. None survived. Temp in brooder is good with plenty of room to go if they get to hot. The only other thing I noticed is that they had poopy butts. What else do I need to do? I am very sad that I lost almost all of our chicks. By the way these are silkies in case it makes a difference.

 

[azygous]

Losing so many chicks is unusual. It brings to mind a post a few years ago from a person who was losing every single chick she tried to raise. Every. Single. One.

Finally, someone suggested she have her water tested. This person didn't update us here at BYC for a whole year. When she finally did, she said they had moved because their water was found to have been contaminated and it was the reason for all the chicks dying.

If you've ruled out everything else, take a water sample to your health department and tell them you are worried it may be responsible for the death of your chicks.

With widespread fracking contaminating ground water in so many locales, it's not out of the question that this could be your problem.

Meanwhile, get some bottled water, and use only that for your chicks until you're certain the tap water is safe or you discover another reason behind these deaths.

 

[16 paws]

Looks like pasty butt can be caused by being too cold or too hot.

PREVENTION
· Maintain proper brooder temperatures
· Consider switching from heat lamps to a radiant heat source such as anEcoGlow brooder, which will eliminate the possibility of overheating chicks.
· Add probiotics to the chicks’ water
· If several chicks develop pasty butt after a few days in the brooder, it may be too hot and the temperature should be adjusted.
· Don’t be in a hurry to offer treats to chicks. Always provide grit if offering any food other than starter feed. Grit can be sand, a clump of weeds with the root ball/dirt attached or crushed granite, which can be found in feed stores andonline.
· If pasty butt is recurrent The Chicken Health Handbook suggests offering some scrambled eggs mixed into the starter feed and if that clears things up, switch brands of feed.

I am not saying that the chicks died from pasty butt but until you can find out what happened it is wise to rule out certain things. I know how difficult this is for you and I am truly sorry, I really want to help!
Marie

 

[16 paws]

Thanks so much mattrisch!

You can also try the heating pad method that I have read about here on this site. I havent tried it but I know some have and really like it if you have to brood your own chicks again.
Marie

 

[16 paws]

Just type in "Mama Heating Pad in the Brooder" search window and it will come up, has a lot of pictures also.
Marie

 

[Granny Hatchet]

As old as i am and many yrs. I have kept chickens i allways thought pasty butt was diarrhea .

 

[Blooie]

I'm from the opposite school, and I hate to confuse the issue. But like a lot of other people who have been at this game much longer than I have, I just can't see how a chick can build up any immunity if the opportunity isn't there. I brood my chicks outdoors in the run - I put an x-pen from my old dog training days in there, Mama Heating Pad and a cave of straw, and they do the rest. They decide when they want a little warm up, they decide when they want to explore, and they decide when they want to eat and drink. At night, as the sun goes down, they head into the cave or snuggle on top of it, and sleep the whole night through. In the morning they are up and raring to go. I don't separate them from the other, older chicks and older chickens except with that little bit of wire between them. The floor of their brooder is the same litter that all the chicks and chickens have been on, with the caveat that I do remove the top layer of bedding and put new down for them. I really don't know if that makes a difference, since within hours they've scratched down to the original layer, but I feel better with them having some fresh.

Even chicks that were brooded in the house were given a big clump of sod from outside, which they promptly ripped to shreds, enjoying themselves immensely. As the sod breaks down, they dust bathe in the dirt left behind. I haven't lost a chick yet, mine are totally integrated with the rest of the flock by no later than 5 weeks, and they are strong, healthy, curious and happy. And best of all, I'm not all stressed out - I actually get to enjoy them.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

ouch ! sorry for your loss. wondering if corrid might help ? its for pasty butt. also a teaspoon of sugar in the water. drop the electrolytes. fresh water every day, food small enough pieces95 degrees under the light and as you said, room to move away. what do you have on the floor for bedding ?

 

[16 paws]

If they have pasty butt you have to clean it right away or they can die. Sorry about everything that happened. I wish I could do or say more. Hugs to you....

 

[mattrisch]

I did clean there butts every time I saw it. Is there something that causes it?