Biddie Death Wish - 40% bird loss

[appps]

Okay so thinking outside the box to try and save what's left, can you put up a divider (just some temporary wire of some sort would do as it doesn't really matter if the odd one jumps over into another section) so that the pen is divided into 4 with a quarter of the chicks in each section. That way they still all have a heat lamp per section but if they insist on continuing this suicidal piling there are only a 1/4 as many chicks each time so hopefully they won't smother each other?

 

[Zackman23434]

Okay so thinking outside the box to try and save what's left, can you put up a divider (just some temporary wire of some sort would do as it doesn't really matter if the odd one jumps over into another section) so that the pen is divided into 4 with a quarter of the chicks in each section. That way they still all have a heat lamp per section but if they insist on continuing this suicidal piling there are only a 1/4 as many chicks each time so hopefully they won't smother each other?

I was gonna suggest something smillar. Great advice above. My first instinct here would have been to divide the numbers up which would be extremely easy to do while still keeping them in the same room. I also would have thermometers in there at this point as I can't believe the temp has not been taking yet. As much as I feel for the poster with the issue, I see a lot of assumptions and reference to past flocks without issues and such. It sounds like you are really trying hard with this issue and I take nothing away from you but start with the easy basics and instead of asking what's wrong with the birds and I thinking you received a "bad batch" start doing things to solve the immediate issues. I know you tried to fix the areas it was happening In but when it happens in another area you have to fix the obvious. If birds are piling and dieing then eliminate the possibility of that happening first(limit the numbers of birds per area) then cover your basics and get temperature readings and take notes of them and bird activity. If they are separated and temperatures are good and they are still dieing then you can start assuming there is something actually wrong with the birds. But again, please stop the birds from the exact thing that's killing them presently. If I'm getting sick every time I drink milk, I'm not going to continue to drink milk, try other brands, and ask why is milk making me sick as it's never made me sick before. I'm going to stop drinking it so I won't be sick and then try to figure it out. There may be an underlying issue but the effect of it can be stopped easily. This would be easier on you and also help you discover your answer.
One more thing to reiterate, just because something worked before doesn't mean that you can't have an issue another time. Especially when you are dealing with an environment that you do not have 100% control of, a good chunk but not 100% and nature changes often.

 

[Shezadandy]

I agree w/appps and zackman23434, though I'm new to chickens, dividing the flock into smaller numbers below the critical (fatal) mass. Then I would try experimenting with watching behavior when lights are turned off and other stress causing events. Good luck, what a terrible scenario!

 

[aart]

Yolk sacks protruding on chicks several days old is not normal and is usually an incubator temp problem.

 

[BiddieBehavior]

Thanks for your idea and the responses from the others, something does need to change to trigger a resolution.

To split up the barn would be horrendous for me trying to service each area climbing over dividers with food and water hoses considering the long rectangle shape. In theory it sounds workable, but in practicality my arthritic knees would falter.

But your idea sparked another. After two weeks of being in the barn, and now just yesterday morning losing another 7 in a heap, I decided to 'go for it' and clean the chicken house, creating a change in routine for the birds. The windows were opened up about 12" for air for me. Happily there were no hidden dead birds in the mix. I forced all the birds out of their favorite mounding area, rearranged all their roost setups and stirred the birds up the entire time the landscape pots were dragged around collecting the old bedding from the floor.

They tried to mound in a new corner, perhaps just to get far away from me? Some had settled down to nest by the open windows, showing the temps were not a problem. Only 6-8 ended up under the heat lamps out of the 70 or so that are there. The temp under the lamp is at 75, varies through the rest of the barn since it is not insulated. Now they were far more evenly scattered in the house, some at the feeders, some at the water. These birds are feathered so they were fine.

Maybe 5 were on roosts. None of them tried to approach the exit door, for a couple of minutes a few tried to fly around testing their wings... both things expected with a flock this age. Prior flocks would have the tops of the water and feeders scoped out to land on, never happened with this group. They hang on the floor. On the plus side they will not be ones to need a winged clip being an escape artist going over a fence.

Holding my breath to see what's there today. Basically they have a strong mind set.

They have been analyzed by the State doctor for physical problems... if necessary I'll sacrifice one or two more to have them tested again hoping something has surfaced. The ones with the death wish might just cancel themselves out with normal, even if only a few, birds remaining. This problem would have been a lot worse if my flock was larger, so there is that to be thankful for also. Basically, it is what it is.

Again, thanks for the suggestion... much appreciated!

 

[BiddieBehavior]

Thanks for the info... would the incubation temp irregularity create a behavior problem? Have you had experience with that?

 

[aart]

Thanks for the info... would the incubation temp irregularity create a behavior problem? Have you had experience with that?

I don't know......was just addressing the physical yolk sac issue.

Another thought on the piling.
It can be a temperature response, trying to get warm.
Or could be a fear response.....any chance there's a predator issue?

 

[BiddieBehavior]

Wish it was that simple. Warm temps are available, a few go under but birds are spread out away from the lights... leaving them on 24 hours just in case, sometimes light helps bring a change from what I've been told. No predators, completely enclosed in barn without cats. Not near fire departments, rescue squads. My doorbell dog only barks if someone comes, otherwise it's quiet and set back from the road.

Am pursing another avenue with having some of the live birds go for observation to a medical authority to see what comes up. Otherwise, all of these birds are contained away from all other forms of life and will stay that way until something gets figured out.

Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate your effort.

 

[Zackman23434]

Wish it was that simple.  Warm temps are available, a few go under but birds are spread out away from the lights... leaving them on 24 hours just in case, sometimes light helps bring a change from what I've been told.  No predators, completely enclosed in barn without cats.  Not near fire departments, rescue squads.  My doorbell dog only barks if someone comes, otherwise it's quiet and set back from the road. 

Am pursing another avenue with having some of the live birds go for observation to a medical authority to see what comes up.  Otherwise, all of these birds are contained away from all other forms of life and will stay that way until something gets figured out.

Thanks for the suggestions, I appreciate your effort.

What color are the light bulbs and what type of light. Could be a response to traditional colored bulbs if not using red. And obviously if they are old fluorescent ballast lights they flicker at a speed that chickens can clearly see and detrimental to their health. Just thinking that if they are piling at night only away from the lights it could be something that is irritating them that isn't as bad during the day where light is blended vs when it's dark outside and light is more exaggerated.

 

[enola]

What breed are these chicks?