Chick deaths-What did I do wrong!

[bhocks]

I just watched 11 chickens ranging in age from two and half weeks to 4 weeks die in less than 45 minutes. I AM STUNNED!!! These chickens had no indication of sickness, were eating well, actively moving, and just being chickens less than an 1/2 hour before the first death. Their feed is not moldy or mildewed and the water is changed twice a day. Their bedding is clean and dry white pine shavings which has not been treated with any chemicals. No additives in the water. No change in feed. Feed was organic chick starter crumbles. An hour before, they were fed 2 very mashed-up hard boiled eggs (for 14 chickens). All chickens ate the eggs The eggs were refrigerated. These chicks are kept inside(the coop isn't quite finished yet) in a chicken "condo which is made up of several large cardboard dishwasher boxes complete with perches and rooms with windows. Boxes were clean with no visible contaminants. Temperature was good. The majority of them died on their sides and exhibited seizures and rapid labored breathing. The remaining three are subdued. The rapidity of the deaths suggests some sort of toxin(?) maybe. But then why are the remaining three still alive, at least for now. Was it the eggs? Protein overload? I have read more than several resources that indicating that feeding mashed hard boiled eggs to chickens isn't harmful. Help! As I am at a loss!

 

[PunkinPeep]

I'm so sorry about your loss.

This is truly unusual.

My first suspicion is also some kind of toxin, but i can't imagine what it would be.

Is it possible someone sprayed some kind of pesticide in your house or near your house that they might've inhaled through an open window? This is the only thing i can think of toxin-wise that you might not have been aware of.

A plain boiled egg yolk is certainly safe to feed to chickens and would have had to contain something else to harm them.

I can't imagine what could kill so many so quickly. If you're not able to find the source, you might consider a necropsy to see if a lab can isolate what did this.

So so sorry.

 

[TXmom]

Wow, I'm so sorry! I feed mine eggs all the time, starting at a few days old...they love them.

Are you cleaning house? Using any air fresheners or other cleaners that could harm them? What about cooking...frying or baking with Teflon pans?

 

[slackwater]

My first hatch, all three chicks died on their 6th day within about 1/2 hour. I went through EVERYTHING, but couldn't figure out what I had done wrong - and have not had any similar problems since. I'm sorry for your loss - I guess I'm just trying to say that I hope it's an isolated incident for you like it was for me.

 

[chickensioux]

Wow, so sorry for all of your losses. It is very mysterious. Everything sounds ideal. It does sound like some sort of toxin to me too. Is there any possibility you have a facility nearby that would do a necropsy? Complete with toxicology? I'm thinking that's the only way you will find out. Again so sorry.

 

[cochinbantam-lover]

What a terrible thing to happen, I am so, so sorry!