Baby chicks dying

[swiftchick]

They usually hang out in the middle so I figure the temp is pretty good. I just switched to pine shavings today since they are 2 weeks old

 

[swiftchick]

I'm watching for pastry butt constantly and cleaning it

 

[swiftchick]

The openings u see on the right is covered with thick plastic so we can see them. Their poop seems normal for all the pics ive seen. Nothing red.

 

[backyardflock1]

I am not a expert on chickens but I do have a few, and I brooded and hatched them myself. I do not have any advice other than trying bottled water (if you are using tap) and making sure to clean the brooder so no infections happen. Hope all goes well ! Have fun with your new chickens, they are a blast!

 

[nicole63021]

Hmm...sounds pretty good, you keep things even tighter than I did, lol. I did organic non med starter and the brooder temps went from 95 to 75 and everything in between. Do you know if they were vaccinated against Mareks? The symptoms don't overly sound like it, but it would be good if they had it. I would try giving them the Sav-A-Chik in case they are lacking in vitamins (B vitamins specifically) which could keep the chicks from thriving as well as they would otherwise. What sort of condition was the brooder at the feed store in? Who was their supplier? Sadly, despite everything some chicks will simply fail. It could be worth looking into another source for your chicks if continue to have sudden death. The only real way to know what happened would be to have a necropsy done to determine the cause of death.

 

[swiftchick]

Thanks so much guys! I'll get that save a chick stuff. I know they weren't vaccinated but they said the feed would be what they needed to prevent and spread a disease. The conditions weren't great at the feed place but they had water, heat & food available. I thought the new babies would do better since I had them since day 1 but then I feel like they got killed somehow... I'm so curious if those two would have demised if I was home.

Do u know anything about the shaking head? Is that normal?

 

[nicole63021]

Shakes, tremors and wry neck can happen, and I've heard a few people say that the extra B vitamins helped. The medicated starter only helps prevent coccidia, nothing else. I had chicks vaccinated against Mareks since there had been cases in some birds in my best ate area. No medicated starter and no cocci problems. Garlic helps with the immune system, but I'm not sure at what age, if any, you need to wait before giving. I wish you all the best, chickens are such great fun and it is so rewarding to raise them from day old chicks!

 

[backyardflock1]

Do you have medicated starter food for them?

 

[swiftchick]

Yep @backyardflock

 

[backyardflock1]

Then all I can say is used bottled/purified water, keep them/ the brooder clean, and make sure the temperature is around 95 degrees. good luck