Blue Silkie Genetics!

[feather leg farms]

We don't feed the medicated b/c they can't be fed that forever and thats why we feed non-medicated. I feal if they don't get it and they live then they're strong enough.
They are all newly hatched chicks or a week or two olds. They haven't been exposed to anything but the inside of our house.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Medicated gets them off to a stronger start, helping them build tolerances to common health concerns. It can be viewed as being similar to colostrum in milk for baby mammals--it gives short term immunity while building long term immunity.

BTW, you CAN continue feeding medicated forever is you so choose.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

Quote:
Okay, so no other birds are ever in your house, and you never go straight from your current flock to your babies? I've had birds inside get mites/lice, so you really need to check that. Lift their wings and look in the wingpit, then all through the feathers on their bellies and in their crests and back. Wear reading glasses or use a magnifying glass.

 

[feather leg farms]

Ok!!!!

 

[KinderKorner]

If it makes you feel better I have the most rotton luck with blues too.

I've lost 6 top quality birds. A rooster, two hens, and 3 chicks.

All died from different reasons, different times. But I haven't had a single problem with my whites. lol

I think it was just bad luck.

Since then I've had over 20 healthy chicks, and I bought 4 hens yesterday, and they are doing great.

It sounds like yours are getting sick. Bleach the bator and brooder. Maybe wait a while before hatching more chicks. It sounds like Cocci to me. Next time give them some sulmet if you really feel your about to loose them. It's worth a try. Especially if your feeding non-medicated food.

 

[catwalk]

Maybe it's just a coincidence that it's the blues? I am having bad luck with these unusual blueish grey partridge chicks that I'm getting from a black pair of mine. They all die at one week of age. It's making me upset because I wanna see what they grow up to look like, but I can't get them to live, either. Check your chick's feet, to make sure that no toes are folded over. If they can't get around to eat or drink, they won't live more than a few days. I think that's why my last one died, and I'm going to keep a closer eye on them all from now on.