Chicks dropping dead?

[Boo71]

Can anyone think of a reason why 2 weeks old Speckled Sussex chicks would start to die (lost 4 in the past 24 hours) for no apparent reason? They are housed in a new broody box...clean bedding....good feed and water.....temp at about 85 degrees. I am at a loss....and soon will be at a money loss if the little buggers all die.

 

[sumi]

I'm so sorry to hear about your losses. Did they show any symptoms beforehand? Lethargy, puffiness, anything unusual about their droppings, like blood?

 

[Boo71]

I did notice a bit of blood in some droppings, but that was last week and only a little (figured it was from over eating). Some of them that died were very active and some were not. I have lost 5 as of last night. There is one that seems a bit unsteady on his/her feet but remaining chicks are running and flapping all over the place and seem to be strong and healthy. Could be just a bit of natural selection going on.

 

[WilhelminaD]

Sounds like it might be coccidiosis with the blood in the droppings. Were they vaccinated or are they on medicated feed?

 

[gander007]

Sounds like it might be coccidiosis with the blood in the droppings. Were they vaccinated or are they on medicated feed?

X 2

 

[Boo71]

They are on medicated feed but not vaccinated. It looks as if coccidiosis is the culprit. All my other chicks are hen hatched and raised and we have had very good hatch and survival rates.I have never seen this before now. This batch was hatched in an incubator so I guess they had it when I got them. The remaining 4 Speckled Sussex and 3 EE's are all looking healthy and active so hopefully it has passed.

Thanks.

 

[Boo71]

Oh yeah and they are all on antibiotics now as well.

 

[cafarmgirl]

Oh yeah and they are all on antibiotics now as well.

I would run a course of Corid to be safe and make sure the others are protected. If this was coccidiosis, and it's very likely, antibiotic's will do nothing.

 

[trompystompfarm]

What is corid if not an antibiotic ?

 

[weezertheco]

Force feed (I know, it sounds weird) the chicks olive oil, just a drop or two. The chicks may have swallowed a small price of pine and it may have gotten stuck inside it. I lost several chicks from that. Or, try giving them some Gatorade or electrolytes added to the water to per them up a little. Make sure you also offer plain fresh water, though.