Chicks dying, PLEASE HELP??

[newchickens2009]

Ok, I just got 18 chicks shipped to me from Georgia this week. Mailed on Monday and I recieved on Wednesday evening around 6. 1 chick was dead in the mailing box so I very quickly gave them water and food. Since Wednesday night I have lost a total of 7.

Every morning before I go to work 1 or 2 are dead and when I get home from work there is another 1 or 2 dead. I have them in the same brooder that I have raised chicks in for 2 years with no problems with even temps, fresh water and fresh food. What I did notice just now when I took out yet another dead chick is that it's butt was totally covered with poop and it was very hard. I think that they have diaherrpea and that it is hardening and causing constipation which is leading to death. Is this possiable or? I am going out now and see if anymore have poop on their butt and if so clean it off with luck warm water and paper towel. Is there anything else that I should do? Or anything else I should look for? Here where I am on a little island I have no access to meds or a vet.

 

[scbatz33]

can you get pedialyte? plain no flavoring? If you can put some in the water to help give them a boost. It sounds like they had a rough trip and some are not doing well.

If they are pasting up in the rear, yes, that will cause things to back up and they will die from it.

Keep butts clean, fresh water, chick feed, warm brooder out of drafts and weather. That's all you can do. I'd definitely contact the hatchery and tell them about your losses.

 

[corrae]

I think you have pasty bottom. Diarrhea stuck on their bottoms. Get some oatmeal and grind it up fine--use a blender or food processor. Take their regular food away for a few hours and get them to eat the oatmeal. This will stop the "runs". Wash their bottoms very gently with warm water--and I found a q-tip to work the best at removing the crusted on poop. Best of luck. The poly-vi-sol (liquid baby vitamins) will help too. Just a drop or two in their water.

 

[newchickens2009]

Quote:
I have no access to pedialyte until Monday, but if they are still having trouble I will get some and try then. I have just cleaned their butts and will try and keep up with that.
Has for letting the hatchery know..... I got them from someone on here on BYC
Thank you!

 

[newchickens2009]

Quote:
I don't have any poly-vi-sol but will see if I can find some oatmeal.
Thank you!

 

[scbatz33]

Try to keep them warm and dry. Oh and if you can get some plain yogurt that might give them a boost and replace the good bacteria they are losing from the pasting. Maybe some scrambled eggs chopped up fine will help boost the appetites.

The poly sol vitamins can be bought at any drug store. They are a baby/children's vitamin so it might be easier to find.

 

[newchickens2009]

Quote:
I will scramble some eggs right away and will get some yogurt from our little groc store.

 

[Elite Silkies]

I use an LG Bator for the first week with chicks. You can keep the temperature perfect, you have to clean on a daily basis though. But, I have not lost one chick since I have started using the LG for the first week.

 

[Judy]

Vitamins might help a bit but are really not necessary. Main thing is to keep their vents open. Clean off the poop that might block the vent -- I found it easiest to do this by holding the chick under a slow stream of warm water; some use a Qtip and peroxide if you have these. Then find some kind of grease or oil and put it on the skin so the next poop won't stick so bad. You can use cooking oil, Crisco, lard, antibiotic ointment, Vasseline -- most anything.

I would also drop the temp a little, and if you are using litter that they could eat like pine shavings, I'd cover it with rags or paper towels for a couple of days.

There is a great sticky at the beginning of the baby chicks forum about why new chicks die which you might find helpful:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=39604

 

[newchickens2009]

Quote:
I am going now to feed them the scrambled eggs and will put a little oil on their butts.
I have always used wood chips and have never had a problem before but will cover for a few days.
Thank you!

Tim