Chicks all dead

[mabaker]

We had 12 chicks born the other day, and they were all doing great. I fed them earlier with mum and went out, when I got back 8 were dead and 2 dont look too well at all. I am devastated......and have no idea why they died, any idea??????

 

[duckboy123]

mabye they over heated or got to cold

 

[mabaker]

I live in Spain, so its not too cold, and they were running around fine when I left :-(

 

[WI FarmChick]

Are these your first chicks?

 

[mabaker]

Hi, the second batch we have had, the first lot were born 3 weeks ago and are fine, healthy and running around, I know I am a novice but I really dont know what I did wrong :-(

 

[WI FarmChick]

I am sorry I am not much help.
Maybe If you explain how you are raising the chicks maybe someone will get an Idea of what could be happening. In detail.

 

[mabaker]

they are free range chickens, The older ones run around the fruit orchards, the mums and chicks get moved to a separate pen once they are born as there is a furrow that runs through the orchard, and fear of drowning is too high. The new mum and her 12 chicks were put in the pen with another mum and her 3 chicks on friday. We lost one chick on saturday but didnt think too much of it. The others were all healthy eating etc, I fed them went out and when I can back 8 were dead on the floor. they all eat the same food, have water, shelter etc.... Is this common to lose such a high number in one hit?

 

[GrandmaChickie]

Any wounds on them? I'm sure you probably would have mentioned it, but just in case.... It's not unusual for one chicken to attack another hen's chicks.

 

[mabaker]

nope nothing, at first that is what we thought maybe a rat, or ferel cat, but nothing, they were just laid there :-(

 

[AnserMater]

Do you use any chemicals or fertilizers in your orchards, or do you have neighboring farms that use pesticides?