Chicks dying, no idea why

[shmccarthy]

I fed them some cooked mashed up eggs today. They seemed to like it, it was all gone when I checked again. I checked again tonight when I got home and 2 more had died. All have been acting completely normal and they just drop dead. Is it normal for them to drop dead like that even after they're acting like healthy normal chicks? I really don't know what to do at this point. I'm afraid they're just going to keep dying at this rate. I've lost 9 (not including the ones that didn't make it during shipping) in 48 hours. I've brooded so many chicks and never had losses like this.

 

[gander007]

I fed them some cooked mashed up eggs today. They seemed to like it, it was all gone when I checked again. I checked again tonight when I got home and 2 more had died. All have been acting completely normal and they just drop dead. Is it normal for them to drop dead like that even after they're acting like healthy normal chicks? I really don't know what to do at this point. I'm afraid they're just going to keep dying at this rate. I've lost 9 (not including the ones that didn't make it during shipping) in 48 hours. I've brooded so many chicks and never had losses like this.

That is totally uncool and heartbreaking sounds like you need to give them maybe 2
egg's a day and add some sugar to the water the sugar as you know is not good to
give all the time but in this case you need to get them wired and thirsty and the sugar
will do both, the major problem is they got cold during shipping and that is major ......


Please keep us posted and if you loose one more in the next 3 days I would suggest
giving the an hard boiled egg one after another till thy could not eat anymore .......







gander007

 

[red horse ranch]

I didn't lose any more after the 4th day if that gives you any hope. The hatchery should make good on the ones that died in the first 2 days. Murray McMurray replaced my entire order but we waited until warmer weather for them to ship them.
I know exactly what you are going thru. I'm so sorry.

 

[shmccarthy]

I emailed the manager at the hatchery and gave her a very detailed explanation of what's going on. Out of all the chicks I've brooder, this has never happened. It sucks cause I really just wanted some silkies, I spend some good money on some hatching eggs just recently for none of them to even develop because of shipping stress. Today they are 5 days old. I am going to go check on them now. They really seemed to like the egg, so I'll give them more.

 

[shmccarthy]

All babies are accounted for this morning. Two I had to clean some poo off their butts again. The one chick is doing a lot better but the other's was pasted up pretty bad, and has been since he arrived but I've been cleaning it multiple times a day and it's getting a bit better. This morning after I cleaned him up I noticed his vent almost looks a bit prolapsed. It's pretty slight but I know it's not normal.

I've seen the chicks pick on him quite a bit and I think they have irritated it. Is there anything I can do and should I separate him with a friend that's also at the bottom of the pecking order?

He's been my favorite since the beginning, he's got a big spot on his crest.

 

[gander007]

Are you putting Probiotic in the water ???????

 

[red horse ranch]

you don't have anything to lose by separating a couple of them as long as they are all warm. I use a no-pick lotion called Rooster Booster on any of my chicks or chickens that are being picked on. It tastes HORRIBLE and after one taste they leave it alone. It also hides the red areas that are attracting the others. You can find it at most farm supply stores and I always keep a bottle of it around.
I've read that putting a little vinegar in their water helps prevent pasty butt but I haven't tried it. I'm sure others on here can tell you more about it and I believe there is a whole thread about it on this forum.

 

[shmccarthy]

New problems arising.


So I just got off the phone with someone from cackle hatchery. I am not very pleased with how it went. The person basically told me it was my fault for not medicating with anti cocci medicine right off the bat, and that's why they died. I told the person that I recieved them Thursday early morning and they went to say that it's the post office's fault for being a day late. (Shipped Monday 2-3 day shipping) and try got chilled and developed cocci, which is why they keep dying. This doesn't make sense to me because they're not showing symptoms, they're just dropping dead. No bloody poo either. ( I understand only a couple strains have bloody poo but that's what I've dealt with cocci). They also said that I waited too long to contact them to get compensation. I contacted them an hour after they arrived as well as the following day telling them that more chicks are dropping dead.

They told me to medicate them with sumlet. I have liquid corid 9.6% and asked if I can use that and they said no because it will not work because corid doesn't treat symptoms. I treated 8 week old pullets that were almost dead from cocci and was able to bring them back with corid??? Thoughts on that? Can I treat them with corid? The chicks are 5 days old. Do you think they have cocci? Thoughts/opinions?

 

[red horse ranch]

That tells me that I'll NEVER buy from Cackle!

I seriously doubt that they have cocci. They were late getting to you and they got chilled. Period. And they can die from it. Cackles rep was just trying to put the blame somewhere else. You may have better luck talking with a different rep on Monday if you reported the problem when you received them. Chances are that it was the postal service fault but I don't know if you will have any luck there either.
If you see no symptoms of the disease then I wouldn't treat the with anything else. If they are 5 days old now then you have a good chance of keeping the rest of them alive. I lost 19 of them from my order last year but no losses after 4 or 5 days. Good luck.

 

[Slingha]

What a bunch of deadbeats. I will NEVER order from Cackle.

First of all, they bought insurance from the USPS when they shipped them. They are the only ones who can file a claim. Cackle needs to make this right.