Chicks dropping dead!

[jackrooster]

Quote:
I don't think tinted food.........a week before these came i got 3 RIR chicks that have been eating it..........and they are very plump and fine....

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

I have ordered many times from ideal over the past 2 years with good turnout never any dead or unhealthy chicks... except once. I ordered some bantams, 2 different breeds. The one breed they all seemed fine eating and drinking, then within a period of about 36 hours all dropped like flies one by one, they would stumble around as if there were something neurological going on and then just die. The other breed all turned out fine. I never figured out what was wrong as they seemed ok, no funny poo or anything.
Anyway, ideal will replace them all for you if you call them up. They were very helpful and sorry it had happened, but could not provide an explanation why it happened.
They do not ask you to send any back to analyze either, but at least they will ship and replace them free.

Sorry for your babies

 

[jackrooster]

Quote:
What bantam breeds did you order??!?!?!?!?! alll mine i ordered were bantams to!!! silkies cochins and wydottes!!!!

 

[akcountrygrrl]

I don't put my chicks on shavings until 3-5 days after they arrive because they will pick at the shavings and eat them rather than their food. I use sugar water and medicated feed for the first 3-5 days as well. I had a problem with some chicks that I shipped in where within 24 hours I had lost almost 50% of the babies (similar symptoms). I switched the remainder to Sulmet treated water. I didn't lose anymore chicks and those that were looking puny perked up. When I spoke to the hatchery, they said it was shipping stress. I ship in chicks annually and had never had a catastrophic loss like that. I recommend contacting the hatchery and letting them know. I've dealt with several different hatcheries over the years and they've all been really good about either giving me credit or replacing the birds. Good luck.

 

[jackrooster]

i have just notice the one of the one that is pretty near death has a really poopy butt........is that normal?? my RIR had little hard poop on the butt and the are alive and welll??

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Is it covering the vent? That's most likely pasty butt and you absolutely need to address that as SOON as possible! Dunk their behinds in a dish of warm water and wipe it with a soft rag gently until it comes off. Be careful not to pull on the feathers, you can rip the skin. Afterwards, you can dab a little olive oil on the their bottoms to help keep it from happening again. But absolutely take care of this NOW, they can die very quickly if their vent is closed up by the poop.

 

[tigerrrrrrrlilly]

they were OE's a batch of one color all died, the other color was fine.

 

[ilovechickens]

I am sorry about your loss, I just got 10-2 week old Buckeye's from a fellow that bought them from Ideal. They are all fine, I checked their butts immediately and they passed inspection, I also received 14 Red Leghorn's at least 10 of them had dried poop, and a few were really bad, he received them on Thursday, I got them today, I cleaned there butts with warm water, and they seem fine now, could be pasty butt. 2 of them were really plugged up, I normally would not of taken them, but I felt bad for them, they were really hungry and thirsty. I also 21 of my own from a hatch on Monday, and not one of them had pasty butt, and all lived except 1 which I figures would die. All of my birds are down in the basement, all in separate totes, all with heat lamps. So we will see how it plays out, again sorry!!

 

[chicken_china_mom]

I'm surprised that no one else thought of this yet, but it caught my attention the moment you said your chicks were in your basement. Do you have electric or gas heat? Even if your birds are not in the same room as the heater, if you have gas, there could be a leak. Some gases are heavier, including carbon monoxide, and a small leak that normally wouldn't affect large humans, can kill teeny tiny little chicks. It's the first thought that came into my head when you said they were down there. You can't smell or taste it, but it's extremely deadly. It's just a thought to consider. I ordered last year from Ideal with no problems whatsoever, and I know a lot of people that do business with them regularly with no problems. Sure, the shipping is stressful, especially when Ideal is located in Texas (forgot to read where you're from), sometimes it can be a REALLY long trip for the babies. I'm in Indiana and I ordered my chicks in June, and mine arrived safe and sound, every one of them healthy and intact. I would keep a close eye on them, and if it were me, I'd move them out of that basement for multiple reasons. The fact that the room is only 65 is one reason, and the possibility of the contaminants that can occur in a basement is another reason. Plus the threat of gases. I hope you don't lose any more babies. Watch their poop and try to give them some sugar water and see if the sick ones perk up at all. Good luck, I'm rooting for your babies to make it!

 

[jackrooster]

so far 5 have died 2 silkies 1 cochin and 2 wydottes..........i just clean 2 poop butts.......non of the other have poop butt and are acting funny on of the blue silkies i was clean was ehh alittle week and i think he might be next but i clean his but so let hope for the best......