Chick Grit Tragedy

[Gail Laubenthal]

I bought 6 black sex-link chicks and after one month moved them into the larger coop brooder. Everything was going fine until I decided to "pour" some chick grit into their feeding area. Instead of sprinkling it around so they could pick it up here and there, I poured a PILE of it next to their food. Within 3 days, 2 chicks were dead, then 3 more. I found blood on the pine shavings, so I am assuming that they bled to death because of my mistake. No other environmental issues were different and they had been in the outdoor brooder for over one week. I am sharing this so that others do not make this mistake. I am also writing this so some of the "experts" might confirm my suspicions.

 

[Kiki]

Blood in the poop most likely means Coccidiosis and Coccidiosis will kill in left untreated.

 

[AlleysChicks]

I've always kept mine in a Hamster bowl next to the food. I've not had a problem in a years time and definitely no blood. I'm betting something else is going on.

 

[AlleysChicks]

Blood in the poop most likely means Coccidiosis and Coccidiosis will kill in left untreated.

That's what I had been thinking about.

 

[BugStalker]

I'm sorry that happened. Sometimes, just a new location, with new nematodes and things, can cause bleeding. I've had chicks on gravelly dirt/sand without problems, once, before putting them in the coop. I don't know if that's a bad idea...

 

[BugStalker]

Blood in the poop most likely means Coccidiosis and Coccidiosis will kill in left untreated.

Yeah, that's the specific word. I said nematodes.

 

[debid]

It wasn't the grit unless your grit was coated in poison. Coccidiosis seems likely.

 

[Gail Laubenthal]

I've never had any issues with mass chick death, so I was not thinking it could be something like Coccidiosis (to my knowledge, I've never had that issue). It also happened so quickly...5 dying within 2 days of each other. Could they have been born with it? How do I treat that and should I treat the other mature birds? I am glad to know that it was not the grit.

 

[BugStalker]

I like using Corid and herbs. Actually just discussing this at https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...have-killed-my-turkey-poult-overnight.1198196

 

[BugStalker]

Mature birds would probably be immune, but it probably wouldn't hurt to give them Corid, and free choice herbs, either.